AN ICONIC 200-year-old department store is set to be demolished and the site turned into £17million park.
The well-known British chain was chosen to be bulldozed flat after residents demanded more green space in the city.
A derelict Debenhams in Cardiff is set to be bulldozed and converted into a park[/caption]
The luxury park will offer a fountain splash pad and an open space for events[/caption]
There are hopes the park will be open by 2026 to assist with Cardiff’s bid to become a ‘child-friendly city’[/caption]
Debenhams in Cardiff had been a go-to destination for beauty products, clothes, and gifts for decades.
However, after the 242-year-old brand was plunged into administration in 2020, all physical stores were permanently closed.
The iconic Cardiff store was first built in 1981 – nearly four decades ago – and spanned multiple floors.
Serving loyal shoppers for 39 years, the household brand became a high-street staple with hundreds of customers a day.
Now the Debenhams in St David’s Cardiff will be crushed and transformed into a “vibrant, cultural place” for residents.
Helen Morgan, Centre Director of St David’s Cardiff, said: “Receiving approval is a huge milestone in this landmark development, and we’re delighted that Cardiff City Council and the community have recognised the positive impact that this space will have on the city.
“A new city square will be revolutionary for this part of Cardiff, giving locals and visitors even more reason to spend time at St David’s and in the city centre.
“Combined with the recent and upcoming arrival of so many exceptional brands, this is a truly exciting time for St David’s and Cardiff.”
Included in the new development will be a fountain splash pad for youngsters to play in summer.
It will enhance urban biodiversity and give a new lease of life to the abandoned department store.
The derelict Debenhams will look pretty different after it’s transformed with the new landscape set to have trees, flowers, and a playground.
An open area will also be created to allow space for performances, markets, street food vendors and events to take place.
The approved proposals came after a consolation with 5,000 Cardiff locals.
Research by Landsec, the company that submitted the plans, showed 75 per cent of locals thought there should be more green space in the area.
Developers are hoping to get the fancy new park up and running by 2026 so it can back Cardiff as the UK’s first UNICEF Child Friendly City.
This is a campaign dedicated to converting cities into environments where child welfare is a priority.
It looks to hold cities to the standard of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and UNICEF is working with multiple UK cities to crown them child-friendly.
