A prominent building on one of Cardiff’s busiest roads will be demolished to make way for student flats.

Cardiff Council’s planning committee voted to approve the plans for the student accommodation on the site of Longcross Court, Newport Road, at a meeting on Thursday, September 5.

Longcross Court was built in the 1970s as an office block and used to house a number of businesses, like Channings, a Betfred betting shop and Adventure Rooms.

The new development will be 18 storeys at its highest point and include 706 private rooms, a cafe and 480sqm of office space.

One member of the city council’s planning committee, Cllr Jon Shimmin, said it was his view that the proposal would have a negative impact on the character of the area, adding that the main block of the development “doesn’t enhance” the site and that it “adds nothing to the skyline of Cardiff”.

However, other members like Cllr Sean Driscoll and Cllr Adrian Robson were more favourable, with the former calling the current Longcross Court building “abysmal”.

Cllr Driscoll said: “[It is] like Ayers Rock in the middle of Adamsdown.”

Both councillors did, however, say they had some concerns about pick up and drop off for students at the beginning and end of terms.

The developers will be required to submit a plan on how they will manage traffic at the end and start of term before any part of the building is occupied.

Other concerns that planning committee members had included an overall loss of office space and the quality of living for students after planning officers said that more than a quarter of the units fail to achieve adequate light.

Cllr Shimmin said: “I just think that having more than a quarter of the units fail to achieve adequate light levels, that is… unacceptable.

“This one room… will be the only bit they [students] can call their own in this big city.”

He went on to add: “Not being able to relax with adequate light coming in… I think that is unacceptable for their mental health.”

Council planning officers noted that the light levels in these spaces were regrettable, but added that this degree of impact was considered as part of the wider planning balance and potential benefits that the development will bring.

There will also be communal spaces on site, like a cinema, gym and rooftop garden, and committee members were told that a condition is in place to ensure that the development is only used for student accommodation and not more permanent accommodation.