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Developers who destroyed terrace face no action

GOOGLE The multi-coloured Gwdihw venue, pictured on the now demolished curved street that was Guildford CrescentGOOGLE
Campaigners tried to save Guildford Crescent, which was home to restaurants and venue Gwdihw

Action will not be taken against developers who destroyed a city centre Victorian terrace facade without permission.

Cardiff council’s planning committee said it was disappointed GT Guildford Crescent Ltd ignored its advice and knocked down Guildford Crescent's frontage last year.

Plans the company initially made to carry out the demolition were still approved at a meeting on Thursday.

The facade will be rebuilt by the company, which the council said would have been the best enforcement, but this was already part of the application.

Planning committee member councillor Adrian Robson said: "This has the potential to become our version of the Crooked House... with the way that, unfortunately, the developer decided to demolish the facade against officer advice."

The Crooked House was a pub in Himley, near Dudley, South Staffordshire, which was destroyed last year in a suspected arson attack.

Mr Robson said he supported the application because it would see the frontage rebuilt but called the situation "frustrating".

Cardiff council planning officer Steve Ball said the council's decision would not form a precedent.

On 17 August last year the Bristol-based firm submitted a planning application asking to demolish and rebuild the facade.

It claimed it was "structurally deteriorating and unstable".

The curved street of Guilford Crescent after it was knocked down. Where buildings once stood is instead scaffolding
The facade of the Victorian terrace was knocked down without permission

The council was told on 5 September it had been knocked down, before the planning committee could discuss the application.

The site where 1-6 Guildford Crescent once stood will eventually be home to a 30-storey apartment block.

Councillor Garry Hunt called it a "shame" the site was "destroyed unnecessarily”.

Councillor Emma Reid-Jones said: “There are no consequences to the action of knocking down Guildford Crescent.

“It is disappointing. It is regrettable."