01. Welcome. The Team. Architects: Transport and Highways: Sustainability/ BREEAM/ Energy: Carpenter Davies Partnership. Nicholas Pearson Associates

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1 01. Welcome Welcome to the Watkin Jones Group s Public Exhibition presenting our visions for the land at the junction of Customhouse Street, Bute Street and Hope Street in Cardiff city centre. Introduction and Proposed Development Thank you for visiting the exhibition which shows proposals for the development of land bounded by Customhouse Street, Hope Street and Bute Street in Cardiff city centre. The proposals are presented by the Watkin Jones Group who plan to deliver a mixed use scheme comprising of new purpose built managed student accommodation, providing approximately 450 student bedspaces, and flexible commercial/ retail units (use classes A1, A2, A3, B1, D1, D2). These uses will secure the regeneration and redevelopment of the site. The Group intends to complete the redevelopment of the site which has lain vacant for a number of years with a high quality new tower of between 30 and 35 storey s by the summer of The Group is currently delivering the largest amount of purpose-built student accommodation in the UK, whilst its sister company Fresh Student Living is a highly experienced operator and manager of student accommodation. The Group has constructed approaching 30,000 bedspaces of managed student accommodation across the UK; including within Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Central London, Chester, Edinburgh, Oxford, St Andrews and Swansea. The Team Client: Watkin Jones Group Operator: Fresh Student Living Development Consultant: Mewslade Properties Architects: Rio Planning Consultant: Watkin Jones Group Transport and Highways: ADL Sustainability/ BREEAM/ Energy: Iceni Structural Engineer: Clarkebond M & E Carpenter Davies Partnership Building Control HCD Group Archaeology Rubicon Ecology Nicholas Pearson Associates Heritage Stephen Lavrent Need for Purpose Built Managed Student Accommodation in the City A Planning and Student Accommodation Statement has been prepared by the Watkin Jones Group to demonstrate the need for purpose built managed student accommodation in the city. This demonstrates: The subject site is located in an excellent location for student accommodation, with excellent links to the city centre and Cardiff s universities. There are approximately 35,000 full-time students studying at the higher education institutions in the city, with only about 10,000 bedspaces within purpose built student accommodation and 3,000 bedspaces with planning permission. In the Times Good University Guide 2015, Cardiff University is ranked 27 th (out of 121 Universities in the UK), rising from 33 rd in 2014, with a significant amount of applications for each university place. Where ranked, the other institutions in the city have maintained comparable positions. Cardiff is a success story and is considered to be one of the top UK locations for university study. The city has been subject to a substantial increase in university study over the last 5 years, especially in the number of postgraduates and international students, and is expected to do so in forthcoming years, higher than the UK average. The increases have not been matched by an increase in managed accommodation. Cardiff has a high proportion of students living in uncontrolled houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in comparison with the UK average and a low proportion living in managed accommodation. HMO s are well known for creating impacts within the typically residential neighbourhoods within which they are located. The provision of purpose built student managed student accommodation, such as that proposed at the site, is commonly recognised to be the answer for housing students. It is purpose built and has on site management, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Next Steps Please make any comments and suggestions and post your completed form in the box provided or return to Avril Baker Consultancy at the address shown by 15 th July Feedback will be carefully considered by the project team. A planning application is due to be submitted later this year. If you have any further queries please contact: Avril Baker Consultancy, Consultation Co ordination Tel info@abc-pr.co.uk

2 02. Watkin Jones Group 03. Fresh Student Living Established in 1791, Watkin Jones Group is a ninth generation Fresh Student Living is a partner organisation of the Watkin Jones Group, family business with a proven track record in developing responsible for managing purpose built student accommodation both retained commercial, mixed-use and residential properties, and by the Group and on behalf of others. Fresh currently manages approximately developing, constructing and managing high quality purpose 9,000 bedrooms within the following locations: Bangor; Birmingham; built managed student accommodation. Bournemouth; Chester; Derby; Edinburgh; Glasgow; Ipswich; Kingston; Since 1999 the Group has developed approaching 30,000 Liverpool; London; Loughborough; Paisley; Reading; Sheffield; Swansea; student bedspaces across the UK. Wolverhampton and York. The portfolio is varied, ranging from 60 rooms to Watkin Jones Group currently has approximately 10, rooms, with a mix of new build schemes and refurbishment/ adaptation bedspaces of managed student accommodation being constructed. It delivers typically up to 5,000 bedspaces each of existing buildings. Fresh is a highly experienced specialist manager of student Studio example year. accommodation. Its philosophy is: The cornerstone of this success has been the careful choice..... to provide good quality management service for students. Fresh will of locations, and a combination of creativity and functionality backed by a dedicated and comprehensive service from project New Bridewell, Bristol The Courtrooms, Bristol provide a safe, secure and socially dynamic environment for students to experience life to the full planning and finance, through site preparation and Accredited to the National Code of Standards for Student Accommodation construction, to long term property management. Management Accreditation Network UK (ANUK) ensuring assured high A partnership approach the Group works closely with local authorities, universities and other relevant stakeholders to standards of housing management, minimising misunderstanding and disputes, and ensuring prompt resolution of any issues. Kitchen / Lounge example ensure high quality, appropriately designed schemes that ANUK is supported by the National Union of Students (NUS), the enhance local amenities. Department of Communities and Local Government, the Association for Comprehensive and professional approach the Group s Student Residential Accommodation, the Chartered Institute of Environmental service benefits from the Group s experience at all stages of Health Officers and Universities UK. the process from inception to completion and operation of Fresh delivers the full range of student accommodation services across its student accommodation. Some images of current and recently constructed schemes Byrom Street, Liverpool portfolio including marketing, letting, rent collection, tenancy matters, security, cleaning, health and safety, repairs and maintenance. are provided on this page. Fresh also provides softer services including first line pastoral care, organisation of social activities on site, liaison with the local community to Studio example ensure integration with the community, and dialogue and joint working with key stakeholders including student unions, colleges and universities. A key principle of all schemes operated by Fresh is the establishment of relationships with the educational institutions that students at its schemes attend. It seeks to build positive relationships with such institutions and with other stakeholders (e.g. local authorities, local amenity groups) at the earliest possible opportunity. This is maintained on an on-going basis as this Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth encourages positive communication, helps with dealing with common problems and helps to integrate with the local community. Common Room

3 100m 200m 300m 400m 500m 600m 700m 800m 04. Planning and Site Context Planning Context The main policies relating to the principle of the proposed uses are contained in the Draft Cardiff Local Development Plan, the South Glamorgan Replacement Structure Plan (1997) and the City of Cardiff Local Plan (1996). The planning policies demonstrate that: The proposal to develop managed student accommodation within the city centre is considered acceptable in principle and has been identified as a specialist form of accommodation which should be provided in the city. There is a presumption in favour of mixed use developments in the city for residential, employment generating and community facilities. There is a support for the regeneration of Cardiff and an encouragement to maximise the potential for the re-use of existing urban land. Site Context The site lies at the heart of Cardiff City centre in an area where there exists a number of what would be considered tall buildings. The image below demonstrates that there are a number of tall buildings to the south and east of the development site. There are also two key city centre development sites identified in green, Central Square and Capital Quarter. It is clear that Cardiff is in a phase of urban renewal and a cohesive approach to the placement of tall elements will assist in the legibility of the city and the need to reinforce a sense of place. The Custom House Street site is identified in red amongst a cluster of taller buildings demonstrating precedent for tall buildings in the immediate vicinity University / College Buildings Cinemas Stadium / Arena s Shopping Centres Gym / Leisure Centre Library Train Line Pedestrian Routes Aerial view of Cardiff with site shaded in red Proximity of relevant amenities Views of tall buildings adjacent to the site

4 04. Site Analysis Site Analysis The site is approximately 100m to the south of the commercial focus of Cardiff City Centre at the junction of Customhouse Street, Radisson Hotel This 21 storey hotel development in Cardiff, completed in Bute Street and Hope Street and immediately adjacent to the railway line which runs from Cardiff Central. The site is well located within walking distance of Cardiff Central (4 minute walk) and Queen Street Stations (11 minute walk), and is within close proximity to a number of the city university campuses and buildings including Cardiff University, University of South Wales, Cardiff and Vale College and Cardiff Sixth form college. The infrastructure surrounding the site create a principle development constraint. The busy railway line forms a 6m high boundary to South of the site, whereas the thoroughfares to the North and East create difficulties for vehicular access. This creates a very challenging environment for developing standard residential, retail or commercial projects, but does not prejudice the development of high quality student accommodation and small retail facilities. P Altolusso Residential Completed in 2005, the 23 floors of apartments consist of 292 one to three bedroom. ST DAVIDS MULTI-STOREY P JOHN LEWIS MULTI-STOREY CARDIFF CENTRAL TRAIN STATION Views to the site from Customhouse Street and Bute Terrace

5 05. Proposals Site and Floor Plans The aspiration for the development is to create a high density mixed development comprised of circa 450 managed student accommodation bedspaces with communal ancillary facilities plus a retail unit at the ground floor level. The retail unit and student accommodation reception will provide an active frontage to Customhouse Street and Hope Street and create much needed animation to this important junction. The student accommodation will be a mix of cluster rooms and studios, and the ancillary and communal areas will include management offices, communal lounges and study areas, laundry facilities, secure bike storage and services areas. Level 23 to 35 Level 17 to 23 Level 16 Level 02 to 15 Studio Level 01 En-suite Bedroom Communal Lounge / Kitchen Student Communal Lounge Plant Room Mezzanine Student Gymnasium Bike Storage Retail Unit Student Accommodation Office Level 0 Student Accommodation Reception Proposed Site Plan and Ground Floor Plan

6 06. Proposals Urban Design The aspiration for the development is to create a high density mixed development comprised of circa 424 student accommodation bed spaces with ancillary and administration support, plus Retail at the ground floor level. The Retail and Student Accommodation reception will provide an active frontage to Customhouse Street and Hope Street and create much needed animation to this important junction. The student accommodation will be a mix of Cluster rooms and Studios, and the ancillary and support areas will include Management offices, Communal Lounges and study areas, Laundry facilities, Bike storage and services areas. View looking North along Lloyd George Avenue View looking East along Customhouse Street

7 07. Proposals View looking South West from Cardiff Queen Street Station View looking West along Bute Terrace

8 08. Building Management 09. Local Benefits A Responsible Neighbour The Watkin Jones Group and Fresh Student Living recognise that being a good neighbour is critical to the successful integration of the new student accommodation with the wider community. It is able to draw on its wealth of experience in managing student housing across the UK to enforce high standards of behaviour: The development will have on site management between 08:00 to 17:00. Management staff will be supported by a team of senior student wardens and over night staff who work in shifts to ensure a 24 hour management presence. Local residents and businesses will be provided with a dedicated point of contact on the site to address any issues or problems. If our neighbours are not satisfied with Fresh Student Living s management, they can complain to ANUK who can suspend or withdraw the company s membership. All students will sign a lease that commits them to acting in a proper and respectful manner and prevents them from bringing a car to the city. If they break the terms of the lease, Fresh Student Living has the ability to require students leave the accommodation, although this has not been required to date. A clause will forbid students from making noise that is audible outside of the building between 23:00 and 07:00. Noise will be monitored. CCTV will be installed throughout the scheme s communal and external areas, including both hallways and recreational areas, and will be operated 24 hours a day. Management staff supervises the beginning and end of term arrangements where students move in and move out of the building. Additional staff is brought in to assist in directing students and handing out/ collecting keys. Fresh undertakes car free student accommodation within the majority of its schemes. The location of communal and management facilities are identified in other exhibition boards. The scheme will enhance the local area by: Spending power in the local area. According to the NUS in 2013 students spend 9,204 on non-university and non-accommodation type spending (e.g. including travel, household goods, personal items). The result of the Customhouse Street development is that the student element alone could generate approximately 4 million expenditure each year for the local areas, from a site which currently generates nothing. Fulfilling an existing demand for managed student accommodation and relieve the pressure of students living in houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Creating activity and vibrancy in the local area and re-develop a vacant and derelict site. Obtain a BREEAM Very Good rating Utilising low/ zero carbon (LZC) and renewable tachnologies, energy and wwater efficiency measures. Highly accessible site, linked to the institutions it will serve by non-car modes, the services (shops, public transport) that student require within the city centre, reducing the reliance on the private car. Providing high quality, well managed and secure accommodation for students. Providing a deliverable development which allows this vacant site to be redeveloped immediately and completed in Providing natural surveillance for the area, supplemented by on site management, physical security measures and active frontage. Advertising staff vacancies locally to allow the local community to access new jobs created at the site; both at construction stage and in the operation of the development. Providing a high quality of development which enhances the character of the surrounding area. Provide a Tower of high architectural quality which contributes positively to the urban fabric of Cardiff city centre.