Key Points
- Ardour Academy Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation, has received approval from Cardiff Council to relocate its operations.
- The organisation is moving from its current base at The Globe Centre on Wellfield Road to a new location at 29 Windsor Place, closer to the city centre.
- The new venue will offer a range of ‘mind, body and soul’ activities, including dance classes, yoga sessions, drawing, and crafts.
- Planning documents highlight that the ground floor of the new Windsor Place site has been underutilised since the pandemic.
- The project is expected to create seven full-time positions and ten part-time subcontractor opportunities.
- No internal or external modifications are planned for the Grade II listed building at 29 Windsor Place, as the proposal is for a material change of use only.
Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) May 6, 2026 — A community and wellness hub dedicated to providing “mind, body and soul” activities has been granted permission to move into the heart of the Welsh capital following a successful application to Cardiff Council. The Ardour Academy, which currently operates from units at The Globe Centre on Wellfield Road, is set to transition its services to the ground floor of 29 Windsor Place.
Why is this creative centre moving locations?
According to planning documents submitted to the local authority, the organisation believes the new premises offer a significant opportunity to make their services more accessible to the wider public. As reported by WalesOnline, the academy stated that the relocation presents a “valuable opportunity” to deliver essential services in a more central location. Furthermore, documents submitted as part of the application process suggest that the new site is an “optimum size for the company to operate,” allowing for sustainable business growth and the promotion of further employment opportunities within the city centre.
How will the new Cardiff city centre venue be used?
The application specifies a structured approach to the use of the new space to cater to diverse community needs. According to the planning documents cited by WalesOnline, activities between Monday and Friday, during standard working hours from 8am to 6pm, will primarily focus on counselling and wellness classes. Outside of these hours, the venue will transition into a creative space, with evenings and weekends featuring a regular schedule of dance classes, yoga sessions, drawing, crafts, and room rentals. The organisation anticipates that these activities will not adversely impact the surrounding area, noting that the venue is situated in a non-residential zone where neighbouring businesses typically adhere to similar operating hours.
What is the impact on employment and the building?
The proposal has been framed as a positive move for local job creation, particularly given the previous state of the premises. As detailed in the planning submission, the ground floor of the Windsor Place property has been “underutilised” since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and has not been achieving its full potential for job creation. The move is projected to generate seven full-time positions, alongside ten part-time opportunities for subcontractors. While the academy acknowledges that the move will result in a decrease in total office space, the applicant maintains that there will be a “net increase in employment” for the area. Regarding the preservation of the site, the planning documents confirm that 29 Windsor Place is a Grade II listed structure located within a conservation area. Consequently, the project involves only a “material change of use,” with no internal or external structural modifications planned. The application concluded that the project is suitable for the location, citing clear socio-economic and environmental advantages.
Background of the development
Ardour Academy Ltd was established in 2018 as a not-for-profit organisation. Based at The Globe Centre on Wellfield Road, the academy has built a reputation as a community hub, offering a diverse programme of classes that focus on physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Their current offerings include sessions on stress management, conflict resolution, and British Sign Language (BSL), alongside their popular dance and fitness workshops. The organisation has long been noted for fostering a supportive atmosphere that encourages community engagement and friendship through arts and wellness. The move to Windsor Place represents a strategic expansion for the academy, aiming to integrate these services more deeply into the city centre’s infrastructure.
Prediction: How will this affect the local community and stakeholders?
This development is likely to have a positive impact on the local community by revitalising an underutilised historic building and increasing access to wellness and creative services in Cardiff’s centre. For the local public, the shift brings specialised wellness and creative workshops, such as BSL training and counselling, into a more accessible location, potentially increasing participation from residents who find the Wellfield Road site less convenient. For the local economy, the creation of seventeen new roles (full-time and subcontracted) provides a welcome boost to the city centre’s service sector. Furthermore, by occupying a space that had been underused since the pandemic, Ardour Academy contributes to the broader objective of maintaining the vibrancy of city centre office districts. Provided the organisation maintains its current inclusive, non-profit ethos, the move should serve as a successful model for converting underutilised commercial ground-floor space into productive community assets.
