GALLERY | Holyhead waterfront plan revealed
Reworked proposals for the £100m regeneration of the North Wales town’s waterfront have gone before the public and a planning application is expected in April.
See gallery below
Outline consent was granted in 2014 by Isle of Anglesey County Council to joint venture developer Conygar Stena Line to regenerate the area. However, although the outline consent remains extant – the period for the submission of reserved matters lapsed in February 2019.
A refined and scaled-down application is now being prepared on behalf of new applicant Conygar Holyhead, with a consultation running until 1 February ahead of a hoped-for April submission.
Key elements of the project include:
- Introducing a wider mix of waterfront housing, including converting the listed former naval residence Soldiers Point House, along with associated outbuildings, into apartments
- Creating a yacht basin
- Halving the number of marina berths from 500 to 250; the introduction of an amphitheatre, terraced inlet and covered market arcade
- Breaking up development areas to improve views through the scheme
- Moving most of the project’s parking underground
- Raising the development platform to improve its resilience to climate change
The project team includes CAD Architects, Dutch engineering consultancy Royal Haskoning and planning and environmental consultancy Axis. Conygar Holyhead is a subsidiary of Conygar Investment Company, which has advanced several projects in North Wales in recent years.
Conygar owns the former Shell depot in Rhosgoch, which had been proposed as a site to support the Wylfa nuclear project.
Conygar’s Holyhead plans include the construction of a new, robust breakwater. Taking up part of this reclaimed area will be Newry Beach, a signature development of six apartment blocks including 108 homes. The existing maritime museum in the area will be retained. Newry Beach’s commercial element will include the 250-berth marina.
The other key part of the residential proposal is Porth-y-Felin, built around a listed building of the same name. This will include 136 homes on reclaimed land, including apatments, terraces and villas; along with the yacht basin.
CAD Architects’ managing director Mark Davies said: “The proposed Holyhead Waterfront redevelopment is comprehensive. It will incorporate a new 250-berth marina, amphitheatre, promenade and gardens, together with over 250 new homes. There are also two iconic 19th century listed buildings, which will be sympathetically restored and converted.
“Our vision is to transform Holyhead waterfront into a vibrant place to live, work and play, whilst preserving its unique character and protecting the existing setting.”
The porposals can be viewed online in a virtual exhibition.
Click any image to launch gallery
- The Porth-y-Felin residential area includes 136 homes. Credit: consultation documents
- Development at Newry Beach
- Yacht basin at Porth-y-Felin
It looks ok but although I agree with the soldiers point and old MOD property being renovated, I do think that newry beach is one of the only pretty areas in Holyhead – and therefore should be left alone
By Jenny evans
Will we have access to any of the beaches still? And will the locals still have access to walk the promenade?
By Susan Williams
I know the area and the locations surrounding it very well, after being brought up in the area.
It’s a complete eyesore but then again anything destroying the beachfront will be.
Progress is progress but before anything is considered I strongly suggest that the iconic Breakwater is renovated so as to protect the beach front and the port for the next 150yrs.
It’s been standing for pretty much that long and showing signs of degeneration. It has been breached before and will not be able to sustain protection as climate change accelerates. No or at best a depleted Breakwater equals no beach front, no safe berths or port.
Simple as that!
By Michael Peers
Great news but I still can’t get my head around what the impact of rising sea levels would have on developments such as this
By Cymro
Perhaps, if the developers were to show commitment to the area by protecting and repairing the two Grade II listed buildings on their property, as an act of good faith, the local people might be more prepared to consider and discuss their proposals for the remainder of the site.
By B Edwards