List of tallest buildings in Cardiff

Part of Cardiff's skyline during 2020

This is a list of the tallest buildings in Cardiff that are 45 metres (148 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] Designed by Rio Architects,[3] 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.[4] 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)".[4]

Tallest buildings

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Tallest habitable buildings

The buildings are habitable either on a permanent or temporary basis, including residences or businesses.

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) [5][6][7] Student accommodation
2 Wood Street House 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) [8] Part of the Cardiff Bus Interchange and Legal & General offices
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) [9] From 1967 until 2018, the tallest building in Cardiff to the top of the roof (architectural feature).
4 Stadium House 78 (excluding spire) 256 (excluding spire) 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) [10] The lower levels of the building houses the Cardiff Empire Telephone Exchange. Also see Tallest uninhabitable buildings below.
5 Zenith, Capital Quarter 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) [12] Student accommodation
6 The Copper Works (Y Gwaith Copr), Capital Quarter 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) [13]
7 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) [14]
8 Tŷ Pont Haearn 63 207 21 2005 Residential and lower multi-storey car park 51°28′41″N 3°10′21″W / 51.4780°N 3.1725°W / 51.4780; -3.1725 (Ty Pont Haearn) [15] 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) [16]
10 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) [17] Not to be confused with Admiral House.
Designed by Glenn Howells Architects at a cost of £58 million.
Premier Inn (Stadium) 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) [8]
12 Holland House 60.3 198 15 1968
(Renovated 2004)[18] 		Hotel 51°29′01″N 3°10′02″W / 51.4836°N 3.1672°W / 51.4836; -3.1672 (Holland House) [19] Converted office block
13 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) [20] UK Government Regional Hub and offices of HMRC. Named after the bible translator William Morgan (1545–1604).[21]
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) [22]
Brunel House 58 190 16 1974[23] Office and retail units 51°28′56″N 3°10′11″W / 51.4823°N 3.1698°W / 51.4823; -3.1698 (Brunel House) [24] Originally called Great Western House, headquarters for the Western Region of British Rail.[25]
16 Pendeen House, Ferry Court 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) [26]
17 Vita Student Cardiff, 11 Park Place 55.2 181 18 2022 Residential 51°29′03″N 3°10′30″W / 51.4841°N 3.1749°W / 51.4841; -3.1749 (Vita Student Cardiff) [27] Student accommodation
18 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) [28] Not to be confused with Tŷ Admiral
19 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) [29]
20 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) [30]
21 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) [31]
22 Vega House, Celestia 48 158 2007 Residential 51°27′51″N 3°09′32″W / 51.4643°N 3.1590°W / 51.4643; -3.1590 (Celestia) [32]
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) [33] Twin tower office block comprising one block 13 storeys and one block of 11 storeys
24 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) [34] 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) [35] In Butetown.
26 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) [36]
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) [37] 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) [38]
29 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) [39] 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) [40]
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) [41][42][43] Former City Road campus of Coleg Glan Hafren, converted in 2016 into a student accommodation and a coffee shop.

Tallest uninhabitable buildings

List of tallest uninhabitable buildings 40 m (130 ft) or above. An uninhabitable building refers to a building where most of the height is taken up by an architectural feature which is not habitable, such as a mast, or bell tower.

Rank Name Height (m) Height (ft) Year Use Location Source Image Notes
1 Stadium House 125 (including spire) 410 (including spire) 1976
(Renovated 2002) 		Office 51°28′40″N 3°10′50″W / 51.4778°N 3.1806°W / 51.4778; -3.1806 (Stadium House) [10] With the communications mast, the structure (added in 2002) is the highest point in Cardiff. The stainless steel mast measures 131 feet (40 m).
2 Principality Stadium 90 (masts) 295 (masts) 1999 Stadium 51°28′41″N 3°10′57″W / 51.4780°N 3.1825°W / 51.4780; -3.1825 (Millennium Stadium) [44]
3 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) [45] In Llandaff, a suburb of north Cardiff. Until 1967, the tallest building in Cardiff to the top of the spire (architectural feature).
4 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) [46]
5 St Andrews United Reformed Church 46 150 1900 Church 51°29′46″N 3°09′52″W / 51.4960°N 3.1645°W / 51.4960; -3.1645 (St Andrews URC Church, Roath) [47]
6 Cardiff Castle Clock Tower 40 131 1873 Monument 51°28′53″N 3°10′55″W / 51.4813°N 3.182°W / 51.4813; -3.182 (Cardiff Castle Clock Tower) [48]
St John the Baptist Church 40 131 circa 1490 Church 51°28′51″N 3°10′42″W / 51.4807°N 3.1783°W / 51.4807; -3.1783 (St John the Baptist Church) [49]

Buildings under construction, approved for construction or proposed

This list comprises buildings which are either under construction, approved for construction or proposed (April 2024).

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
Currently on hold
 Student accommodation / retail [50][51]
2 5 Central Square 113 370 35 2023 No - Residential [52][53][54]
3 Harlech Court, Bute Terrace 35 Proposed Yes
During demolition
 Residential [55]
4 John Street Tower (John Street - North) 99 324 2018 No - Mixed use [56]
5 Hallinans House 99 324 32 2017 No
Current building
 Mixed use [57][58]
6 Apartment tower, 1-6 Guildford Crescent 96 314 30 2021 Yes
In progress
 Residential [59][60]
7 Plot 1, Central Quay 90.5 296 29 2022 Yes
In progress
 Mixed use [61]
8 Friary House Up to 28 2024 No
Current building
 Mixed use [62][63]
9 Gramercy Tower, 6 Curran Road 84 275 27 2020 Yes
In progress
 Residential [64]
10 The Embankment 25 2023 No
Current buildings
 Residential [65][66][67]
11 Plot 2, Central Quay 76 249 24 2022 Yes
In progress
 Mixed use [68]
12 Plot 5, Pierhead Street 18 2023 Yes
In progress
 Student accommodation [69]
Longcross Court 2024 No
Current building
 Student accommodation [70]
14 Anchor Works, Dumballs Road 52 170 15 Yes
In progress
 Residential

Tallest demolished buildings

This list comprises buildings that were in the tallest buildings list at 40 m (130 ft) or above that have now been demolished.

Name Height (m) Height (ft) Floors Completed Image Demolished During
demolition 		Previous use Location Source
Phase 2, Government Buildings, Tŷ Glas 73 239 18 1969
February 2023
 2024
November 2024
 HMRC offices 51°31′36″N 3°11′54″W / 51.5267°N 3.1982°W / 51.5267; -3.1982 (HM Government Offices) [71][72]
Gleider House, Phase 1 Government Buildings, Tŷ Glas 44.50 146 11 1968
March 2020
 2024
June 2024
 HMRC and Tenovus offices 51°31′39″N 3°11′48″W / 51.5276°N 3.1966°W / 51.5276; -3.1966 (Marriott Hotel) [73]

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 [74]
2 Glass Needle Scheme, also known as Heritage Gateway Scheme 107 352 32 2005 Residential [75]
3 Capitol Apartments 75 246 25 2008 Residential [76]

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.[11]

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