Plans to transform the listed and historic former SA Brain & Co brewhouse building, located at the heart of the riverfront Central Quay scheme, can been revealed.
The plans from property developer Rightacres, would see the building, which formed part of the former SA Brain & Co brewery site in the centre of Cardiff, being turned into a new office location for the city with a string of restaurants and bars at ground floor level.
The office space will be targeted at established and start-ups firms, including those from the fintech and tech sectors, which are experiencing strong growth in the city and the wider Cardiff Capital Region. The bars and restaurants will also be targeted at indigenous operators.
Designed by Cardiff-based architectural firm Rio, a contemporary six storey extension will be separated from the building via a full length roof light, which will reveal internal views into the brewhouse.
It will be next to what will be another historic central feature of the Central Quay scheme ‑ the Brains branded chimney which dominates the skyline.
The bars and restaurants will look onto public spaces facing the waterfont in the River Taff.
Subject to planning consent, for which an application is expected to be lodged next month, work will start next July and be completed by the end of 2021.
The scheme would provide 54,000 sq ft of new office space and 10,000 sq ft of A3 leisure space (bars and restaurants).
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The original brewhouse has been the home of a number of famous brewers including Hancocks, Welsh Brewers and more recently SA Brain & Co, before its relocation to a new brewing and office site in Cardiff Bay.
Jason Hyett, Rightacres’ project director, said: "Our aim with the regeneration of this unique site has always been to respect the historic and cultural importance of the Brains chimney and brewery building.
"Our brief to Rio Architects was to create a unique office environment that will appeal to the growing number of technology businesses establishing themselves in Cardiff.”
Longer-term Central Quay, immediately south of Cardiff Central Railway Station, could see up to 2.5 million sq ft of new mixed-use development, including office, leisure, retail and residential space.
The scale of Central Quay could be extended to 14 acres by bringing in land owned by Network Rail immediately south of Cardiff Central train station and the existing BMW car dealership site.
Cardiff-based Rightacres is also behind the Central Square scheme immediately in front of the station on its northside.