The Longcross Court development, located on Newport Road, will deliver these beds across 488 units on the site of a largely empty commercial building.

This scheme will include 750 sq m of internal amenities, including a wellbeing studio juice bar and fitness suite. Landscaped outdoor spaces will also be provided as well as a 143 sq m cafe, with 482 sq m of commercial space.

The application was supported by planning consultants Pearce Planning and the scheme has been designed by Corstorphine & Wright. Fusion will target a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating for the building, with air source heat pumps and PV panels.

The site was acquired by Fusion in 2023 from UK-listed REIT Picton Property Income in a forward purchase agreement.

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Work will commence in 2024 with construction expected to start in the first quarter of 2025, targeting completion in time for the 2028/29 academic year.

Citing 43,000 full time students in and around Cardiff, with this population increasing 73% since 2012/13, Fusion land and planning director Julian Evans said the PBSA would help tackle the city’s student accommodation supply problem.

“Longcross Court is designed for positive impact: to enhance the wellbeing and student experience of its residents, to improve the public realm for the community, and to create and unlock much-needed housing for the city of Cardiff,” said Julian.

“Bringing a high-quality and sustainable development to a site that has been under-used for too long, this planning approval is a  testament to the appetite among communities for realising the potential of city-centre brownfield sites and creating best-in-class new homes where they’re needed.”