St David's Hall RAAC Concerns: Iconic Venue's Future at Risk
Cardiff Council has been inspecting St David's Hall for over 18 months, finding no deterioration in its Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). However, the National Theatre in London has discovered RAAC in some of its backstage areas, raising concerns about the safety of buildings constructed with this material.
St David's Hall, built in 1982, has RAAC planks in its ceiling that are over 40 years old. The UK Health and Safety Executive has warned that RAAC is now life-expired and liable to collapse without notice. This dangerous concrete has forced over 100 schools to close due to health and safety concerns after a roof collapse.
The concert hall is due to be taken over by Academy Music Group, which will be legally required to rectify 'defects' with the building. The construction company that built the hall is not explicitly named, but R & M Williams Limited, a notable Welsh construction firm, won the UK's Overall Master Builder of the Year 2025 for a major public sector project, though not the National Concert Hall of Wales.
Despite initial inspections finding no deterioration, the age and potential dangers of RAAC in St David's Hall's ceiling cannot be overlooked. With the upcoming takeover by Academy Music Group, the rectification of any defects will be a legal requirement. The future of this iconic venue hangs in the balance as the safety of RAAC continues to be a concern nationwide.
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