Partners plan Cardiff Central Square

Rightacres and Cardiff council have drawn up a 1m sq ft masterplan for the Central Square scheme in the heart of the city. The Foster & Partners-designed project could feature the tallest building ever built in Wales – a 27-storey, 92m tower for office or student use. Estates Gazette revealed in 2013 that Rightacres and the council were in discussions to buy land around Central Station, in order to transform the city centre, beginning with a 135,000 sq ft speculative office currently being built. Since then the BBC has come forward to choose the site for its prestigious 150,000 sq ft Cymru headquarters, triggering a second speculative block to be planned on site. Some 500,000 sq ft of office and student space as well as 450 homes, retail space and a 200-bed hotel could be built over a three- to five-year span. For an in-depth look at the BBC move, which has yet to be formally signed, see EG’s latest Wales Focus. chris.berkin@estatesgazette.com