A former Cardiff cinema is set to make way for an eight-storey tower for more than 100 students.

The Gaiety Cinema in City Road, which has stood for more than 100 years, is to be demolished this summer.

A private company has applied to Cardiff council to build a development of student apartments on the site, which would be up to eight storeys tall.

The development would include 134 en-suite bedrooms arranged in 22 flats on seven storeys of the development, with shops on the ground floor. There would also be space for 148 bikes.

If allowed, the new development would add to at least seven major developments of purpose-built student accommodation built in or near City Road, which have between them provided almost 1,000 rooms.

Proposed new student accommodation in City Road, Cardiff

A planning application, prepared on behalf of developer Bonne Mares Ltd, said the company wants to provide purpose-built student accommodation "that is attractive to the affordable end of the market".

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The application read: "This is en-suite bedrooms arranged in cluster flats, with between five to six bedrooms sharing a communal kitchen/ living / dining area.

The former Gaiety cinema on City Road

"In essence, replicating the model of the traditional terraced dwelling house converted into a (house in multiple occupation) but in a purpose built, modern building with 21st century standards of heating, acoustic separation and personal bathroom space.

"The vision is to make the site a desirable and sustainable place to live, providing new and purpose-built student accommodation in a safe and attractive environment; a place that provides enjoyment for all residents and complements the character of the area and its relationship with the surrounding town landscape."

Proposed new student accommodation in City Road, Cardiff

No car parking has been included in the plans "due to the centralised location of the site and good access to public transport," according to the application.

The Gaiety cinema first opened in 1912 and at the time could seat 800 people. The cinema closed in 1961 and became a bingo hall, which then closed in 1994.

In 2001, the building became the Spin bar and bowling alley but this only lasted for five years.

The former cinema has been closed since 2006 and has been deteriorating ever since.