PLANS for Wales’ tallest building – to sit just across the river Ely from Penarth – have been given initial approval.

And Penarth Marina residents have given a cautious welcome to the plans, which include a 127-metre tall hotel on the Sports Village site.

Outline planning permission has been granted for the mixed use Bayscape scheme at the International Sports Village, across the river from Penarth Marina.

The centre-piece of the Cardiff Marine Group development is a 30-storey, 127-metre tall hotel tower which, if constructed, would become the tallest building in Wales.

Bayscape also includes serviced apartments, commercial units, bars and three restaurants that can be accessed via Pont y Werin, the ‘Bridge of the People’.

Work to construct the bridge for cyclists, walkers and wheelchair users is expected to be complete next summer.

The height of the hotel is the same as that planned for the Bay Pointe development, which was granted planning permission in 2008, but which was subsequently dropped due to the recession.

Residents of Penarth Marina are said to be ‘apprehensive’ about the plans - but many believe the new scheme could have benefits for the area.

Alwyn Evans, secretary of the Penarth Marina and Haven Residents' Association, said: "I think it's an attractive scheme with a proposed high quality finish, which I hope will be maintained in the final version.

"Access to a retail and cafe area around the hotel will benefit Marina and Haven residents directly.

"The narrow outline will also mean that though it is tall, the visual massing impact towards this side of the river is less.

"One or two of our committee who live directly opposite are a bit apprehensive, but overall, we're much more in favour of this than we were of Bay Pointe, which we unanimously opposed."

Officials from Cardiff Marine Group say they have worked closely with Cardiff Council to ensure the plans integrate with the International Sports Village and surrounding areas.

Cardiff Marine Group Director, Christopher Odling-Smee, said: "Bayscape is much more than a 30-storey tower and hotel.

"Our aim is to complete the work we have started with Cardiff Marina and Cardiff Marine Village by diversifying the land use, alongside our other projects, to provide a dynamic, mixed-use space that allows people to live, work and spend their leisure time all in one location."