Eight-storey union flag planned for Cardiff UK-government building

An eight-storey tall union flag is to be placed on the new UK government office building in Cardiff city centre.

Cardiff council officers have approved planning permission for the 32m-high (105ft), 9m-wide vinyl sign.

It will be attached to the windows of the corner of the building, which is home to the HMRC's tax offices in the capital.

The UK government said the use of the flag was "normal practice for a project of this size and significance".

The news was criticised by Labour politicians on Twitter, one of whom suggested the UK government was "feeling a little insecure".

Named Tŷ William Morgan/William Morgan House, the building is planned to house civil servants from several departments including the HMRC tax service previously based in Ty Glas, and the UK government's Wales Office, the Department for International Trade and the Cabinet Office.

It will have capacity to host full UK cabinet meetings. Prior to the pandemic there were plans for 4,000 to work there.

A planning official ruled that although the sign would be large, "it would be appropriately proportioned in relation to the overall scale of the building".

They said it would "consist of separate graphics applied to each individual window opening and not be applied to the stone cladding between the window openings".

A large scale advertisement had been previously approved in the area, a council report said, at Millennium Plaza.

The official found the sign would not have any "adverse amenity impact".

A UK government spokesman said: "Tŷ William Morgan is a significant UK government building and is the first of its kind in Wales.

"As is practice with similar UK government sites across the United Kingdom and around the world, it will feature the Union flag as part of its visual branding.

"The flag of Wales is flown at Tŷ William Morgan, which also contains other specifically Welsh branding, while the name of the new building was chosen to reflect the UK government's investment in Wales and Welsh culture."

In response Blaenau Gwent Labour MS, Alun Davies, wrote: "Someone's feeling a little insecure".

"I am now utterly convinced that [UK government Welsh Secretary] Simon Hart is a deep agent and is being paid by Plaid, the SNP and Sinn Fein," he said.

Lee Waters, Welsh government deputy minister for Climate Change, tweeted: "I honestly don't think they understand."

Permission for the flag - approved under rules for advertisements - has been granted until 1 May 2026.

The building is part of the Central Square development project in central Cardiff.

It is in front of the Millennium Stadium and stands opposite the new BBC Wales complex, which was built to replace the former Broadcasting House headquarters in the suburb of Llandaff.

In March UK government Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced that all UK government buildings will fly the union flag every day.

Previously flags were only required to be flown on certain days such as the Queen's birthday.