Huge former tax offices in Cardiff are set to be knocked down later this year after the council approved plans to demolish them. The former HMRC offices in Ty Glas Road in Llanishen have been empty for years since the government department relocated to the city centre, with the site facing an uncertain future during that time.
Last March, plans were revealed to knock down the offices and build hundreds of homes on the site, as well as business units, retirement flats and a care home. However, these proposals were scrapped a few months later, with developer Cannon Capital Developments Limited instead selling the brownfield site to Cardiff council.
The council had already put forward plans to build a new high school and special school at the site to meet the rising demand for places in the area. Get the latest news and planning updates from across Cardiff sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletters.
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It has now been confirmed that the several buildings on the site, including the 16-storey HMRC Government Building and 11-storey Gleider House, will be demolished. A statement submitted to the council by construction company AECOM as part of the application, states that the work will take place on a "floor-by-floor" basis with the buildings mechanically destroyed rather than through the use of explosives.
The demolition works are set to be completed within a year and could start as early as October 3, although an exact date is yet to be confirmed. The application also suggests demolition work will take place between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday, and between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays.
The offices at Gleider House, built in 1968, were home to HMRC for decades, but were left empty when the department moved to a new site in Central Square in 2020. A pop-up recycling facility opened in the car park of the former offices in February this year and proved popular with local residents, only for it to close earlier this month ahead of the demolition work.
When it was originally proposed that over 250 new homes would be developed on the massive site, as well as 70 retirement apartments, and a 70-bed care home, some residents welcomed the plans, while many others expressed fears that the new development would increase traffic congestion in the area.
Cardiff Council cabinet signed off plans to buy the land on September 23 last year. However, it remains unclear what the school proposed for the site will look like or when it will be built. Demand for secondary school places in Cardiff is expected to continue to rise over the next few years as thousands of new homes are built on the outskirts of the city. Demand is also rising for places for pupils with special needs, causing financial challenges for the council.
When the council's plans for the new school were revealed, councillor Sarah Merry, cabinet member for education, employment and skills, said: “Cardiff has seen significant investment in its schools and education provision in recent years, but the demand for places across the primary, secondary and additional learning needs sectors continues to grow.
“This land investment opportunity could help Cardiff deliver on its commitment to invest in its education estates and future-proof education provision, helping to meet the projected demand across the city. In time, this would assist the council in continuing to provide inspiring, sustainable and community-focused schools, in which children and young people can achieve their potential.”
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