The tallest buildings in Cardiff
Cardiff's skyline in 2020 from left to right: Clayton Hotel, Interchange Tower, Bridge Street Exchange, Tŷ Admiral, Helmont House, Meridian Gate, Altolusso, McKenzie House, Admiral House, Tŷ Pont Haearn, Zenith.
Central Quay towers under construction in January 2024. Plot 1 (left) will become the tallest building in Cardiff at 90.5 metres in height.

This is a list of the tallest buildings in Cardiff that are 40 metres (130 feet) in height and above in the capital of Wales. They include buildings ranging from the ornate civic centre to the historic Cardiff Castle and Llandaff Cathedral.

The city's growth is reflected in its growing skyline.[1] As is the case with many British cities, some of Cardiff's skyline comprises 1960s and 1970s residential and commercial tower blocks. However, current development trends for high-rise buildings include upmarket apartments and office space.

Cardiff is the largest city in Wales and has the most tall buildings in the country.[2] The tallest building in Cardiff is Bridge Street Exchange at 85 m (279 ft). It replaced Capital Tower in 2018, which, at 80 m (260 ft), which had been the tallest building in Cardiff since 1970.

Cardiff Council considers a tall building within the city centre and Cardiff Bay to be 8 storeys or more or from 25 m (82 ft) in height.[3] Any proposals to the council for a tall building should "Generally be located within an existing cluster or form part of a proposal to create a new cluster (a cluster can be defined as a group of buildings which form a visual cohesion from more than one viewing point)".[3]

Buildings in Cardiff

This list comprises the tallest current standing buildings.

Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as: KML GPX (all coordinates) GPX (primary coordinates) GPX (secondary coordinates)
Rank Name Height (m) Height (ft) Floors Year Use Location Source Image Notes
1 Bridge Street Exchange 85 279 26 2018 Residential and retail units 51°28′48″N 3°10′21″W / 51.4800°N 3.1725°W / 51.4800; -3.1725 (Bridge Street Exchange) [4][5][6] Student accommodation
2 Interchange Tower, 4 Central Square 83.5 274 22 2023 Residential 51°28′38″N 3°10′43″W / 51.4773°N 3.1786°W / 51.4773; -3.1786 (Interchange Tower) [7]
3 Capital Tower 80 262 25 1967 Office and retail units 51°28′58″N 3°10′39″W / 51.4829°N 3.1776°W / 51.4829; -3.1776 (Capital Tower) [8] From 1967 until 2018, the tallest building in Cardiff to the top of the roof (architectural feature).
4 Stadium House 78 256 17 1976
(Renovated 2002) 		Office 51°28′40″N 3°10′50″W / 51.4778°N 3.1806°W / 51.4778; -3.1806 (Stadium House) [9] With the spire structure (added in 2002), the height is 125 metres (410 ft), the highest point in central Cardiff.
5 Zenith 75[note 1] 246 26 2019 Residential 51°28′35″N 3°10′17″W / 51.4764°N 3.1715°W / 51.4764; -3.1715 (Zenith) [11] Student accommodation
6 The Copper Works (Y Gwaith Copr), Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street 75 246 23 2023 Residential 51°28′36″N 3°10′15″W / 51.4767°N 3.1709°W / 51.4767; -3.1709 (The Copper Works) [12]
7 Phase 2, Government Buildings, Tŷ Glas 73 239 18 1969 Office 51°31′36″N 3°11′54″W / 51.5267°N 3.1982°W / 51.5267; -3.1982 (HM Government Offices) [13][14] The former HM Government offices complex in Llanishen, north Cardiff. See also Gleider House, Phase 1, Government Buildings
8 Altolusso 72 236 23 2005 Residential 51°28′39″N 3°10′21″W / 51.4775°N 3.1725°W / 51.4775; -3.1725 (Altolusso) [15]
9 Tŷ Pont Haearn 63 207 21 2005 Residential 51°28′41″N 3°10′21″W / 51.4780°N 3.1725°W / 51.4780; -3.1725 (Ty Pont Haearn) [16] Student accommodation
Meridian Gate 63 207 21 2009 Hotel 51°28′36″N 3°10′25″W / 51.4768°N 3.1737°W / 51.4768; -3.1737 (Meridian Gate) [17]
11 Tŷ Admiral 61 203 14 2015 Office and retail units 51°28′46″N 3°10′22″W / 51.4795°N 3.1728°W / 51.4795; -3.1728 (Ty Admiral) [18] Not to be confused with Admiral House.
Designed by Glenn Howells Architects at a cost of £58 million.
Premier Inn Hotel 61 200 18 2023 Hotel / restaurants 51°28′35″N 3°10′32″W / 51.4763°N 3.1755°W / 51.4763; -3.1755 (Premier Inn Hotel) [7]
13 Holland House 60.3 198 15 1968
(Renovated 2004)[19] 		Hotel 51°29′01″N 3°10′02″W / 51.4836°N 3.1672°W / 51.4836; -3.1672 (Holland House) [20] Converted office block
14 Llandaff Cathedral 59.40 195 1290 Cathedral 51°29′45″N 3°13′05″W / 51.4958°N 3.2180°W / 51.4958; -3.2180 (Llandaff Cathedral) [21] In Llandaff, a suburb of north Cardiff. Until 1967, the tallest building in Cardiff to the top of the spire (architectural feature).
15 Cardiff City Hall Clock Tower 59 194 1905 Civic building 51°29′06″N 3°10′45″W / 51.4850°N 3.1792°W / 51.4850; -3.1792 (Cardiff City Hall Clock Tower) [22]
16 William Morgan House 58 (approx) 190 12 2020 Office 51°28′39″N 3°10′48″W / 51.4776°N 3.1801°W / 51.4776; -3.1801 (William Morgan House) [23] UK Government Regional Hub and offices of HMRC. Named after the bible translator William Morgan (1545–1604).[24]
Helmont House 58 190 12 1984 Office / Hotel 51°28′52″N 3°10′17″W / 51.4810°N 3.1713°W / 51.4810; -3.1713 (Helmont House) [25]
Brunel House 58 190 16 1974[26] Office and retail units 51°28′56″N 3°10′11″W / 51.4823°N 3.1698°W / 51.4823; -3.1698 (Brunel House) [27] Originally called Great Western House, headquarters for the Western Region of British Rail.[28]
19 Horizon, Pendeen House 56 184 19 2014 Residential 51°27′13″N 3°10′36″W / 51.45365°N 3.1768°W / 51.45365; -3.1768 (Pendeen House) [29]
20 Vita Student Cardiff, 11 Park Place 55.2 181 18 2022 Student accommodation 51°29′03″N 3°10′30″W / 51.4841°N 3.1749°W / 51.4841; -3.1749 (Vita Student Cardiff) [30]
21 Admiral House 55 180 16 2006 (Renovated) Residential 51°29′03″N 3°09′56″W / 51.4842°N 3.1656°W / 51.4842; -3.1656 (Admiral House) [31] Not to be confused with Tŷ Admiral
22 Landmark Place 51 167 17 2004 Residential and retail units 51°28′53″N 3°10′17″W / 51.4815°N 3.1713°W / 51.4815; -3.1713 (Landmark Place) [32]
23 Cardiff University Tower Building 50 164 12 – University 51°29′20″N 3°10′51″W / 51.4888°N 3.1808°W / 51.4888; -3.1808 (Cardiff University Tower Building) [33]
24 Verse, 47-53 Charles Street 50.5 165 16 2023 Residential 51°28′49″N 3°10′22″W / 51.4803°N 3.1729°W / 51.4803; -3.1729 (Verse apartments) [34]
25 Celestia 48 158 2007 Residential 51°27′51″N 3°09′32″W / 51.4643°N 3.1590°W / 51.4643; -3.1590 (Celestia) [35]
Southgate House 48 157 13 1978 Office / Retail 51°28′40″N 3°10′45″W / 51.4778°N 3.1792°W / 51.4778; -3.1792 (Southgate House) [36] Twin tower office block comprising one block 13 storeys and one block of 11 storeys
27 Loudoun House 47 154 16 1964 Residential 51°28′12″N 3°10′13″W / 51.4699°N 3.1703°W / 51.4699; -3.1703 (Loudoun House) [37] In Butetown, a district of south Cardiff.
Nelson House 47 154 16 1964 Residential 51°28′12″N 3°10′15″W / 51.4701°N 3.1709°W / 51.4701; -3.1709 (Nelson House) [38] In Butetown.
29 ISIS 3D 46 151 15 2007 Residential 51°28′03″N 3°10′29″W / 51.4675°N 3.1747°W / 51.4675; -3.1747 (ISIS 3D) [39]
McKenzie House 46 151 12 – University 51°29′02″N 3°09′58″W / 51.4840°N 3.1661°W / 51.4840; -3.1661 (McKenzie House) [40] Previously known as NPI House
Eastgate House 46 151 14 1969 Office 51°29′06″N 3°09′57″W / 51.4851°N 3.1658°W / 51.4851; -3.1658 (Eastgate House) [41]
32 The Aspect 45 148 15 1960s, renovated 2003 Residential and retail units 51°28′58″N 3°10′16″W / 51.4827°N 3.1710°W / 51.4827; -3.1710 (The Aspect) [42] Converted office block
Century Wharf: Strata 45 148 15 2009 Residential 51°28′05″N 3°10′34″W / 51.4681°N 3.1761°W / 51.4681; -3.1761 (Century Wharf: Strata) [43]
The Neighbourhood 45 148 11 – Residential and retail units 51°29′10″N 3°09′58″W / 51.4860°N 3.1662°W / 51.4860; -3.1662 (The Neighbourhood) [44][45][46] Former City Road campus of Coleg Glan Hafren, converted in 2016 into a student accommodation and a coffee shop.
35 Gleider House, Phase 1 (Government Buildings), Tŷ Glas 44.50 146 11 – Office 51°31′39″N 3°11′48″W / 51.5276°N 3.1966°W / 51.5276; -3.1966 (Marriott Hotel) [47] The former HM Government offices complex in Llanishen, north Cardiff. Also see Phase 2, Government Buildings
36 Marriott Hotel 43 141 12 1986 Hotel and restaurant 51°28′38″N 3°10′31″W / 51.4771°N 3.1752°W / 51.4771; -3.1752 (Marriott Hotel) [48]
37 Channel View Flats 42 138 14 1965 Residential 51°27′30″N 3°10′57″W / 51.4582°N 3.1824°W / 51.4582; -3.1824 (Channel View Flats) [49] In Grangetown, a district of south Cardiff.
38 2 Central Square 41 (approx) 135 10 2018 Office 51°28′35″N 3°10′50″W / 51.4765°N 3.1806°W / 51.4765; -3.1806 (2 Central Square) [50]
39 Cardiff Castle Clock Tower 40 131 7 1873 Monument 51°28′53″N 3°10′55″W / 51.4813°N 3.182°W / 51.4813; -3.182 (Cardiff Castle Clock Tower) [51]

Buildings under construction, approved for construction or proposed

This list comprises buildings which are either under construction, approved for construction or proposed (May 2022).

Rank Name Height (m) Height (ft) Floors Approved (Year) Under Construction Image Use Source
1 Custom House Street Tower 132 433 42 2016 No - construction halted after the
installation of drainage/manhole 		- Student accommodation / retail [52][53]
2 5 Central Square 113 370 35 2023 No - Residential [54][55][56]
3 Harlech Court, Bute Terrace 35 Proposed No - Residential [57]
4 John Street Tower (John Street - North) 99 2018 No - Mixed use [58]
5 Hallinans House 99 32 2017 No - Mixed use [59]
6 Apartment tower, 1-6 Guildford Crescent 96 30 2021 Yes Residential [60][61]
7 Plot 1, Central Quay 90.5 296 29 2022 Yes Mixed use [62]
8 Gramercy Tower, 6 Curran Road 84 275 27 2020 Yes Residential [63]
9 The Embankment 25 2023 No - Residential [64][65][66]
10 Plot 2, Central Quay 76 249 24 2022 Yes Mixed use [67]
11 Anchor Works, Dumballs Road 52 170 15 Yes Residential
12 Plot 5, Pierhead Street 18 Proposed No - Student accommodation [68]

Cancelled developments

This list comprises buildings which were approved for construction but later cancelled.

Rank Name Height (m) Height (ft) Floors Proposal Date Use Source
1 Bay Pointe 122.8 403 33 2008 Residential [69]
2 Glass Needle Scheme, also known as Heritage Gateway Scheme 107 352 32 2005 Residential [70]
3 Capitol Apartments 75 246 25 2008 Residential [71]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat estimates that the building is 85 m (279 ft), this is based on a floor count of 25 floors. The estimation has been arrived at by analyzing 8,693 other buildings of the same Residential function on this database that do have confirmed heights. The user should be aware that non-standard features, such as significant spires or raised entrances / podiums, may affect the accuracy of this estimation.[10]

References

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  2. ^ "Skyscrapernews.com Wales". Skyscrapernews. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
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  4. ^ "Tallest building for Cardiff gets 'topped out'". BBC.
  5. ^ "Bridge Street, Cardiff". 18 November 2016.
  6. ^ Hayward, Will (25 April 2018). "These are the views from Cardiff's new tallest building". walesonline.
  7. ^ a b "Full Planning Permission" (PDF). Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Capital Tower, Cardiff - Building #217". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  9. ^ "BT Stadium House, Cardiff - Building #223". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  10. ^ "Zenith". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  11. ^ "These are the new tallest buildings in Cardiff". www.walesonline.co.uk.
  12. ^ "Plot J, Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff". Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Government Buildings, Cardiff - Building #1312". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  14. ^ Hignell, A. K. "Post-war changes in Llanishen". Atschool. Archived from the original on 20 February 2006.[self-published source]
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  16. ^ "Ty Pont Haearn, Cardiff - Building #1313". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  17. ^ "Meridian Gate; Hotel Tower, Cardiff - Building #1314". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  18. ^ "McAlpine to build £58m Cardiff office scheme". The Construction Index. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  19. ^ Mortimer, Dic (8 October 2014). Cardiff: The Biography. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-4456-4251-2.
  20. ^ "Macdonald Holland House Hotel, Cardiff - 157871 - EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017.
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  23. ^ "How can you bring business to the heart of a city?". www.arup.com. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
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  35. ^ "Celestia". www.parkmans.co.uk.
  36. ^ "Southgate House, Cardiff - Building #4686". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  37. ^ "Loudoun House, Cardiff - Building #645". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  38. ^ "Nelson House, Cardiff - Building #647". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  39. ^ "ISIS 3D, Cardiff - Building #4868". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  40. ^ "NPI House, Cardiff - Building #648". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  41. ^ "Eastgate House, Cardiff - Building #720". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  42. ^ "The Aspect, Cardiff - Building #717". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  43. ^ "Century Wharf: Strata, Cardiff - Building #4869". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  44. ^ "Coleg Glan Hafren, City Road Building, Cardiff - Building #2257". www.skyscrapernews.com.
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  51. ^ "Cardiff Castle Clock Tower, Cardiff - Building #4930". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  52. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (9 March 2016). "Plans to build Wales' tallest building are given the go ahead". walesonline.
  53. ^ Peskett, Ted (8 June 2023). "Plan for Wales' tallest building 'on hold' as 42-storey tower completion unclear". walesonline.
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  58. ^ "17/02615/MJR" (PDF). Retrieved 17 June 2022.
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  68. ^ "Cardiff Bay Development". Cardiff Sixth Form College. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  69. ^ "Wales' tallest building approved". 28 February 2008 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  70. ^ "Urban Solutions, Glass Needle Scheme". www.skyscrapernews.com.
  71. ^ "Capitol Apartments, Cardiff - Building #5481". www.skyscrapernews.com.

External links

City of Cardiff
Lists of tallest buildings and structures in the United Kingdom
Tallest buildings and structures
Landmarks and visitor attractions in Cardiff
Categories