Neil Harris

Cardiff could be left with a skyline that has been told of empty buildings after a "supersaturation" of luxury homes, a leading architect.

to create the plans, about 7,400 new student rooms have been approved in The City in The Past five years.

But a series of arrangements, since to professionals and tourists to fill up after a fight room.

Jonathan Adams , who said the Wales Millennium Centre , The Building must be demolished.

Cardiff Council said, despite a series of applications for the new student " - blocks, The Number of beds remained less than the students.

the BBC's analysis showed that about 7,400 new hotel rooms, the majority built student accommodation in purpose-(PBSAs), won the Permission or was granted, on appeal in 2014.

This includes Custom House - a 42-storey student block in the vicinity of Central Station , which, if built, Wales' highest building.

changed But have five developments, to use some rooms for non-students temporarily after developers struggled to fill rooms due to construction delays.

Another of THE in Cathays Park, may, after the developer said, you don't a quarter of the room fill in the last Year . to change

With more apply not use built some of the systems and the plans for more student spaces on City Road , there are concerns, The City with the left, student rooms may not be occupied.

Mr Adams fears PBSAs have a limited life span and do not believe, they have been designed for an alternative use.

, that is, they are treated differently than other types of accommodation, and standards for light, space and outdoor areas are often lower.

Mr Adams said this meant the conversion to apartments was not adapted easy for developers to face hefty bills.

"The problem is, it will be dated, they are cheap made, the standards will go on," he said.

"It's not hard to see a scenario in The Future where we don't know what to do with them. "

Last Year , Cardiff Council , introduced, to say when applying for a building permit - how can The Building be changed in hotels or apartments.

But this is not required by law, and Mr. Adams fears, The Buildings stand empty, in a few years.

"It could easily be the case that you have added all in the end is decomposed in 20 to 30 years, or changed significantly," he said.

the Cardiff Civic society, said The City has a unique identity could be high-rise buildings and apartments.

Dr. Elaine Davey said: "We have wonderful buildings in Cardiff and the ruin of The City . "

In a bid to drive up standards, the established Welsh Government , to advise the councils.

Despite The Commission 's objections, formally - for the First Time - students-Scheme of Bradley Court, involved the demolition of the listed building, The Council approved.

The Authority said it had values detailed measures for the conservation and enhancement of heritage assets and there have been A Number of cases in which The Building was adapted for an alternative use.

Traditionally, the Cardiff students usually live in the House , stocks, or houses of Multiple occupation (HMOs) - around Cathays and Roath.

But recently, PBSAs been built primarily for international students.

Some hoped this would free said HMOs for families, but property expert David Feeney , of Cushman and Wakefield, that this is not really happen, as the rents were too high and the market was "saturated".

last Year , said the volume of PBSAs Under Construction or waiting for Permission , had reached record levels in Cardiff and the offer was substantially below the expected growth of the students.

While many offer incentives, including reduction of rent, cash back, and free Breakfast, Mr Feeney said it was not enough to attract students from the traditional House shares.

"When you charge £150 per week for these apartments, you are not going to get you out of £80 per week HMOS, you can't afford it," said Mr. Feeney.

"It's going to be a lot of people to hurt and a lot of empty buildings. "

University of South Wales student Diana Finley from Nevada, Paid over £650 a month To Live in The Eclipse development - what is a private dining room, a cinema and a fitness centre and excursions in North Wales .

her friend Ellie Tipples lives in a traditional House share, pay about £350 a month.

Diana said, they enjoyed their Time there, but think it was value for money, as you are not on one of the rides through their studies.

collegiate Church of, manage, Eclipse, said his accommodation was affordable and in high demand, and that the excursions and extras offered offered support for the physical and psychological well-being of the students.

Watkin Jones are the developers behind the Custom House , said it did not recognize claims that it was no longer the demand there.

A spokeswoman said Cardiff remained a "vibrant and attractive city for students and the goal of" investor appetite remaining close to record levels.

CRM-students, manages seven PBSAs in Cardiff , said there was high utilisation on all of the properties and expects that you fully, or almost fully, for the beginning of The Academic Year .

If a developer uses to build the dormitory, there is no requirement to make a contribution to affordable housing - is automatically triggered, in residential facilities.

And - in contrast to hotels, owners of apartments not business rates to pay.

Some are concerned a developer could get building PBSAs to standards and the payment of contributions, but the developers released this.

Mr Feeney said: "people are trying to play The System , you don't know, you would, if it is not a student Scheme . "

the residents believe that the current application by DG1 developments Ltd, temporary apartments on City Road for serviced apartments would be a "shocking precedent" for "unwanted" homes.

The Company said it was able to fill the room is delayed due to construction work.

Last Year , it was Time to turn in the, say students-room could not be implemented because of the lack of demand, The Council refused and the developer appealed.

DG1 developments are not Limited to, responded to a request for comment.

Dr. Neil Harris , a planning expert at the University of Cardiff , dismissed the fears of the developers could be misused to avoid a gap, the posts that do not say that it was "a means to circumvent the rules."

"The temporary change of use is a possible and plausible solution for developers to fill in the location of buildings, if they are not the people this Year can get. "

A Council spokesman said claims for developers, "Short Change ," the planning process was "completely wrong".

"you[The applicant] would also be liable for new planning, architects and other professional fees, and in many cases a significant redesign of the interior and exterior of The Building .

"In other words, it is a longer and more expensive way for developers," he added.

councils are legally obliged to consider each application on an individual basis and can only refuse an application on planning grounds such as highway safety.

Cardiff Council has guidelines for HMOs, flats and high buildings to advise the Board and the developer.

A spokesman said: reject: "A planning authority, a resolution, because we believe that there is a need for the development.

"During the Cardiff has seen A Number of applications for new in the last few years, The Number of bed-rooms remains significantly less than The Student population of Cardiff . "

Source of news: bbc.com