Tramshed, Cardiff
Tramshed is a music and arts venue in Cardiff, Wales, located in a Grade II-listed building that was once the old tram depot for west Cardiff. The newly redeveloped venue opened to the public in October 2015. It is has a 1,000 capacity, however this is only reached up to six occasions per annum.[1]
The development includes 30 live/work units that are due for completion in Spring 2016. [2]
Background
Tramshed is located in the refurbished Cardiff Tram Depot and Central Workshops, in the suburb of Grangetown.[3] The Grangetown tram depot was one of six in Cardiff (though three of these closed in 1902/3).[4] Its red brick buildings date from 1902, were extended in 1925 and served as the terminus for Cardiff's trams to the west of the city, from 1902 until 1946.[5] They were used for the trolleybus service until 1953.[4] They became Grade II listed in 1997, as a "rare surviving large building from a major tramway system".[5] The main street façade consists of eleven brick gables, each with a louvred oculus and two semi-circular windows at high level.[5]
In later years the buildings became the maintenance workshops for Cardiff Council's vehicles. In 2002 and 2003 the buildings were first proposed as a site for a £3.5 million arts centre (named The Depot) as part of Cardiff's bid to become European Capital of Culture 2008.[6] Cardiff failed in their bid and the arts centre idea didn't go any further at the time.
2010s redevelopment
In the Spring of 2013 the council's vehicle maintenance centre moved to a new location and the old buildings were put on the market. Several options were being considered for its future use.[7] In November 2014 Cardiff Council revealed they were in "advanced negotiations" with a buyer[8] to transform the buildings into an arts centre which would include a gallery, dance studios, work units and conference facilities.[8] The developers, TShed, put their proposals forward for planning approval in March 2015. The architects were Ellis Williams Architects (who had previously redesigned a flour mill to become an arts centre in Newcastle). An open day was held for the public to consult the plans.[9] Plans now included a 1000-person capacity music venue and possibly a micro-brewery.[10]
The first element of the transformation, the 1,000 capacity music venue opened in late October 2015, though the first scheduled concert (UB40) on 24 October had to be moved to Cardiff University Students Union because of a delay in completion.[11]
References
- ↑ "Plans to turn Grangetown tram shed into arts and music venue get go-ahead, but residents still have questions". WalesOnline. 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
- ↑ "Pendyris Street, Cardiff". PrimeLocation.
- ↑ Kathryn Williams (23 October 2015). "5 gigs you shouldn't miss at Cardiff's new music venue Tramshed". Wales Online. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
- 1 2 "Old Cardiff Tram Depot up for sale". British Trams Online. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- 1 2 3 "Central Workshops of City of Cardiff Operational Services., Grangetown". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
- ↑ "Culture city loser's extra cash". BBC News. 4 June 2003. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
- ↑ "Listed former tram sheds on sale in Grangetown, Cardiff". BBC News. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
- 1 2 Sam Tegeltua (24 November 2014). "Plans unveiled to turn old Cardiff tramshed into urban arts centre, creating 300 new jobs". Wales Online. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- ↑ David Owens (22 March 2015). "Historic tram shed to open doors to allow public its say on arts centre plans". Wales Online. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- ↑ "Grangetown's Historic "Tramsheds" – An Inside Look". We Are Cardiff. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- ↑ "Cardiff's Tramshed 'not ready' for inaugural UB40 gig". BBC News. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
External links
- Official website
Media related to Tramshed, Cardiff at Wikimedia Commons
