Cardiff University plan huge student flat development

Over 650 students could be housed in the new development

Ellie Gosley Senior Reporter

11:50, 23 Jul 2026

[A courtyard surrounded by flats with yellow and white exteriors]

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A courtyard view of the proposed development(Image: BDP)

Cardiff University want to build a huge new student accommodation development, according to new proposals. Plans have been released outlining a proposal to transform the former Brickyard Business Park site in Gabalfa into brand new student accommodation for hundreds of university students.

The plans could see a 665-bed student accommodation being built on currently vacant and undeveloped land. The industrial buildings which formerly occupied the site were demolished in 2018, the proposals say.

The plans are yet to be formally submitted to Cardiff Council, with them being published online for a public consultation first.

DPP Planning said it is preparing to submit a full planning application on behalf of Cardiff University to the council for the student accommodation which it said would form a "natural extension" to the existing Talybont student residences.

[A red brick building with Tal y Bont on the side in yellow]

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The proposal is for the former Brickyard Business Park site in Gabalfa(Image: BDP)

The new development would be located next to the existing Talybont North and Gate residences and the food and retail units off Excelsior Road.

It is proposed that the building would be six storeys in height and would include a reception area, social hubs, multifunction rooms, laundry rooms as well as three external courtyard areas with seating. As well as the 665-bed block, there are also plans for car parking, recycling areas and cycle stands.

The proposed flats which would be created as part of the development range in size from four to seven beds, with each flat sharing a communal kitchen and living area. The housing is intended to accommodate first-year university students.

The development will act as a "key gateway" into the wider Talybont residences from Excelsior Road, the plans state, with proposals to create a new access road next to McDonald's.

[A CGI image of a red brick building with yellow pillars]

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A computer generated image of how the site would look(Image: BDP)

DPP Planning say the proposals are a response to the university's "changing and growing accommodation requirements". As well as providing more modern housing and increasing the number of beds the university can provide the students, the plans suggest that the new development would create additional headroom which would enable refurbishments of existing stock. These upgrades are currently not possible due to all housing being occupied during term time.

The plans state that the accommodation would be readily accessible by all modes of transport including by walking, cycling, public transport or by car.

The DPP Planning proposals conclude: "Overall, the proposal represents a sustainable and well-considered form of development which will regenerate a vacant site, support Cardiff Universitys operational needs, and deliver clear economic, social and environmental benefits to Cardiff."

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The plans could see a 665-bed student accommodation being built on currently vacant land(Image: BDP)

It is not the first time plans have been released proposing to transform the disused Brickyard site into student accommodation. In 2018, a scheme was prepared to create three new blocks of accommodation for 646 students on the former site of Brickyard Business Park in Gabalfa, Cardiff.

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The plans were subject to public consultation and DPP Planning say that while feedback gained was positive, the scheme was not progressed. The new application is an "updated and refined proposal", the planning firm says.

Members of the public are being asked to have their say on the proposed development prior to the plans being finalised and a formal planning application being submitted. The full plans and details of how to submit comments can be found here. Feedback should be returned by Monday, August 17.

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