Plans to transform Cardiff's iconic Howells building have been approved days after it was left vacant. The city centre landmark had been part of the capital's shopping scene for almost 150 years and trading as House of Fraser since 2010 before the department store closed its doors for the final time at the end of March.
Under ambitious proposals, the building will be redeveloped with bars, restaurants, offices and even a hotel all potentially part of its new use. A stunning roof terrace is also at the forefront of the plans, with the development at the top of the existing buildings offering views over the city centre as well as food and drink.
The £100m scheme, which will mark the biggest changes to the building in nearly a century, will be known as the Percy in a nod to its architect Sir Percy Thomas. Get the latest news from across Cardiff sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletter.
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Cardiff Council has now officially approved the plans for the first phase of the redevelopment, which will see the Grade II listed building completely refurbished with more modern elements from the 1970s being removed. The new rooftop is also included in this phase, with "world class" tenants being sought to take it over.
Real estate company Thackeray has already confirmed that the space could be occupied for a variety of uses. The Percy's first tenant will serve as an anchor for the entire redevelopment scheme for which a masterplan is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks, with a range of investments including new bars, restaurants, retail, apartments and even a hotel all potentially being incorporated into the building.
The approved plans include the complete refurbishment of over 2,000 square metres of commercial space, spread over the building's five upper storeys and basement, as part of a move to "restore the features and fabric of the Howells building to its original quality" and "remove unsightly 1970s interventions that have caused harm to [its] historic and architectural merit".
The huge bronze windows on the ground floor will also be repaired and reinstated as, according to the planning application, they have "seen better days". Stonework will also be repaired, with the existing historic façade "brought back to life."
However, the most significant part of the approved plans is the proposed roof terrace, which is hoped to become a "special" city centre destination. While the current rooftop simply features a plant room and several skylights, these will be removed and replaced with a new outdoor food and drink venue similar to those seen at Jacobs Market, the Botanist, Flight Club and the planned High Street Arcade.
The roof terrace will feature food and drink facilities with seating areas and a central "roof lantern" with an overhanging roof. Those seated on the rooftop, which will be adorned with planters, furniture and other awnings, will have views of the city skyline and beyond while four restored historic skylines will illuminate the windowless level below.
The application states that the rooftop development is "integral to the revitalisation of the building," with hopes that a "world class operator" will take it over and revitalise the historic building and wider St Mary Street area.
"A rooftop terrace on the corner Howells building would help create a landmark building that would not only vastly improve marketability of the premises, but greatly assist in maximising our ability to secure a ‘best in class’ operator for Cardiff City centre," it read.
"A roof terrace will be an important selling point of the building; we have seen a significant rise in demand from restaurant operators for outside space, partly in response to the pandemic with consumers wanting to eat and drink alfresco, but it will also allow a ‘world class operator’ to create a truly special venue with stunning views over the City"
"From a development viability perspective, it is absolutely critical to utilise 100% of the building and we would be concerned that without the ability to have a roof terrace, it is unlikely that an operator will be able to use the upper parts of the building within their store design, so these could end up being mothballed."
The statement added: "An iconic [food and beverages] opportunity will act as an anchor for the development that will no doubt positively impact the wider re-generation of the House of Fraser site and support our vision of creating a world class development in the centre of Cardiff. We are firmly of the opinion that with the benefit of a roof terrace on the corner of Howells building we will be to attract the UK’s best hospitality operators”
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