Plans for a major new 11-storey red-brick tower in the heart of Cardiff city centre have been unveiled as part of the massive Howells department store redevelopment project.
The historic former Howells site on St Mary Street, whose history stretches back to the 1860s, is set for a dramatic transformation into a mixed-use complex featuring apartments, offices, a hotel, and restaurants. While parts of the scheme, including the restoration of the 200-year-old Bethany Chapel, have already been approved, the final phase, which includes the controversial tower, is now in the spotlight.
Latest design documents show what the proposed 11-storey tower block could look like in the centre of the site. It is planned to house 105 apartments and would rise above a new public square.
However, the design has already sparked strong concerns from Cardiff Civic Society earlier in 2025. The society argues that the proposed new building would “dwarf the adjacent listed buildings” and be an “eyesore” when viewed from key locations like Cardiff Castle, St Mary Street and the medieval St John’s Church.
Developers, TE Cardiff 7 Ltd, are proposing to demolish several structures in the middle of the site that they deem to “make no or limited contribution to the special character” to make way for the new construction and public space.
They have developed a retention strategy for the historic buildings, which they state has been “firmed up in collaboration with officers from Cardiff Council and Cadw.” A design and access statement from the applicants argues that the proposed new buildings and public realm seek to “perpetuate and re-assert the heritage and character of the area.”
The former Howells department store closed its doors in March 2023, marking the end of its retail history and the beginning of this significant and contentious redevelopment chapter for Cardiff city centre.
Image by Patel Taylor
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