Cardiff Sixth Form College, Cardiff

CSFC is part of Dukes Education Group Limited which was founded in 2015 and is a family of nurseries and schools and colleges in the UK. CSFC has been the top school in the UK for A Level results over the past 11 years and is one of the top A Level schools in the world.

The teaching accommodation will be at a site currently occupied by the historic Grade II listed buildings, Merchant Place and Cory’s Buildings. The proposals comprise the sensitive conversion and restoration of the Grade II listed buildings, including the change of use to an educational facility, and a new eight storey building to the rear within the existing courtyard. The new development will provide educational facilities and teaching space including classrooms, science labs, amenity space, a large hall, canteen and a large auditorium space on the top floor.

The proposals with significant investment from CSFC, will reintroduce a viable use to the site which for many years has been vacant and dilapidated. The new College will add significant footfall into the Bay area and help to support local business, as well as revitalising activity on the ground floor of these prominent buildings.

DWD led on the planning from pre-application stage through to the issuing of the planning permission. This included extensive pre-application engagement with Cardiff Council, and community consultation which included a successful public consultation event. DWD worked closely with the consultant team, particularly Expedite who provided project management, architecture and design and mechanical and engineering services to support the project. Following the positive resolution to grant planning permission at Planning Committee, DWD oversaw the preparation of the legal agreement.

DWD is continuing to advise on the boarding accommodation building, which will be located on Pierhead Street. We are currently working collaboratively with the Cardiff Council on this application, which was submitted earlier this year.