No appetite for destruction

First, the good news: Cardiff's Guildford Crescent has been spared demolition after constructive dialogue between the city council and landlords the Rapport family. It's an against-the-odds victory for those of us who marched in protest at the planned destruction, and something worth celebrating by anyone who is opposed to the homogenisation of city centres and who values the preservation of architectural history.

Or nearly everyone: Cadw, unfortunately, disagree with that assessment of the buildings, citing "the overall lack of character and degree of alteration" as the grounds for the decision against listing them. That presumably still leaves Guildford Crescent in a very vulnerable position if the Rapports have a change of mind or heart.

What's more, the news that the buildings will stay standing is somewhat bittersweet given that it comes far too late for the businesses that thrived there. Spare a thought for Gwdihw and Thai House, both of which continue to seek new homes.