Amlwch Port Appraisal

Amlwch Port Appraisal Adopted 5 March 2009 Copyright Maps in this document are based upon the Ordnance Survey mapping with permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Licence No LA09001L For further information, contact the Built Environment and Landscape Section Old photographs and maps © Archive Service Isle of Anglesey County Council, The Department of Archives and Manuscripts University of Wales Bangor, and personal collection of Mr Bryan D. Hope Permission must be sought from the Council before reproducing any part of the document. Contents Executive summary Major changes since designation The way forward Amlwch port conservation area development guidance Location plan Original conservation area boundary Boundary review and recommendations 1. Introduction 2. Conservation area 3. Community 4. Date designated 5. Reason designated 6. Location 7. Area covered 8. Setting 9. Historical background Population change Archaeology 10. Open spaces Trees and hedgerows 11. Townscape Views 12. The local economy 13. Physical fabric Local building material and styles Streetscape 14. Principal buildings 15. Positive and negative elements 16. Appendices Executive summary This Conservation Area Character Statement will become a working Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) upon adoption. It supports Ynys Môn Local Plan 1996 (Policy 40) and the stopped Unitary Development Plan (Policy EN13) which states that the character and appearance of all designated Conservation areas will be protected from unsympathetic development. Enhancement of their character will be achieved by carrying out improvements and permitting suitably designed new development. This document will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. Circular 61/96 (paragraph 20) states that the quality of place should be the prime consideration in identifying, protecting and enhancing Conservation areas. This depends on more than individual buildings. It is recognised that the special character of a place may derive from many factors, including: the grouping of buildings, their scale and relationship with outdoor spaces, architectural detailing, and so on. Planning Policy Wales 2002 (paragraph 6.5.15) states that if any proposed development would conflict with the objective of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a Conservation area, or its setting, there will be a strong presumption against the granting of planning permission. Section 14 of The Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Rural Design Guide SPG (2008) contains design guidance for developments within the historic environment. Summarised below are elements that contribute to the character and appearance of the Amlwch Port Conservation area requiring preservation or enhancement. History • Bronze Age man extracted copper from Parys Mountain around 3,500 years ago! • The Romans are also known to have worked the mine. • Amlwch owes its existence to both the sea and Parys Mountain. • The earliest ship movements from Amlwch were recorded in 1730 as carrying oak and alder and later; corn, butter and cheese. • On the 2nd March 1768, "The Great Discovery" of a large quantity of copper ore was made on Parys Mountain. • The copper from the Mona and Parys mines dominated the world's markets in the 1780s. • Acts of Parliament were passed (1793 and 1812) to “Enlarge, deepen, cleanse, improve and regulate the Harbour of Amlwch”. • The decline in the fortunes of the copper mines saw shipbuilding become increasingly important to Amlwch. In the 1860s a railway branch line from Gaerwen was completed to Amlwch Port. • In 1871 the mining operations at Parys mine were suspended. • In 1913 due to the reduction in ships using the harbour the control of the harbour was passed to the local council. • After the Great War and up to circa 1930 the main activity at the port seemed to be the repair and breaking up of war ships for scrap. • The Great Copper Mines have attracted tourists since the mid 18th century. • Today tourism and small scale commercial fishing are the prevailing activities of the once thriving port. Setting • Amlwch Port is an enclosed natural harbour with views out to sea. • The Port extends inland along a natural creek, surrounded by natural rock outcrops, facing north towards the sea. • The rocky outcrop to the West of the port is of distinct coastal grassland and heath land with scattered scrub and fern. • To the east and west of the harbour (sub-area 1) are the predominantly well preserved remains of the Port’s copper exportation and shipbuilding industries. • The sloping topography of the built area (sub-area 2) contributes to the stepped roof heights of terraces. Architecture • The general character of sub-area 1 is of a sturdy industrial landscape of stone and slate pitch roofs buildings. • Buildings and structures within sub-area 1 tend to be large in scale and either single or two storey (with notable exceptions being the chimneys to the northeast of the port). • The architectural style in sub-area 2 is predominantly of modest two-storey rendered working class terraces. • The varying height and pitch of roofs is an important characteristic of sub-area 2. • Walls of buildings and structures within sub-area 1 are in the main of exposed stonework whilst a render finish is seen on most of the buildings in sub-area 2. • Slate roofs pre-dominate both sub-areas. Major changes since Designation From the 1980s onwards the Borough Council and the Isle of Anglesey County Council were able to secure various grant funding for; environmental improvements to the Square, refurbishment of the Sail Loft, Consolidation works to the Kiln, Copper Bins and latterly (in 2002) to the Mona Windmill which is an important landmark feature overlooking the Conservation area. It is important that these developments (or any future developments) had little or no detrimental effect on the character or appearance of the designated area or its setting. Since its establishment in 1997 the Amlwch Industrial Heritage Trust aims have been to: conserve the natural and industrial landscape of Amlwch Port (and Parys Mountain), promote scientific and historical research and a fuller understanding of the two sites, and present them for the appreciation of the public. Through various funding the trust has been able to undertake extensive works including the provision of a visitor centre at Amlwch Port. Amlwch Port has recently benefited from the addition of CCTV and Floodlighting. Major developments and public investment can bring about economic benefits and restore confidence and thus encourage investment in the protected area’s building stock that will help safeguard their future and in turn the character of the area. It is a glowing testimony to the quality of the original buildings that the overall form of the Conservation area has remained relatively unchanged over the last two centuries. It is the loss of architectural detailing that often contributes greatly to the special character of the Port that is at greatest risk primarily due to lack of building maintenance or unsympathetic alterations. The Way Forward The Isle of Anglesey County Council, Amlwch Industrial Heritage Trust, Welsh Assembly Government, Amlwch Town Council and others in partnership continue to seek funding for the further development of the port and actively promote both Amlwch Port and Parys Mountain as national tourist attractions. There are notable sites within the Conservation area that offer regeneration development or enhancement opportunities - former Amlwch Brewery site on corner of Chapel Street/Quay Street, the largely vacant Copper Bins, the prominent Mona Mill and others. However, any developments would need to be sympathetic to the character of the Conservation area or its setting. On a positive note the port’s character and appearance has generally been retained. Some original detail, particularly to harbour walls and terracing around the historic port, still survive. The Cornish influenced construction method (vertically aligned long slabs of stone and large boulders) of the Harbour Walls is unique to the region and regarded as a special feature synonymous to Amlwch Port. However, the negative side is that some buildings still suffer from a lack of general building maintenance. Inappropriate materials have also been introduced to the Conservation area including: pebble dash and uPVC or aluminium windows and doors. Previous alterations to business frontages and signage have not had regard to the special character of the area. Boundary changes are proposed so as to include locations that are presently omitted from the designated area, where buildings or features are integral to the quality and form of the setting of the Conservation area. The total area covered by the Conservation area would increase from 48,148m² to 50,451m². In order to preserve or enhance the special character of the Conservation area future developments should have regard to the existing; materials, style, size, scale, roof and building line so as to be sympathetic to their surroundings. The important views and open spaces that exist should also be preserved. Amlwch Port Conservation Area Development Guidance Development which affect the Conservation area should preserve or enhance its historic character and appearance. The value of the Conservation area can be damaged significantly by the loss of its historic details. Traffic management, parking, or lighting proposals will be appraised in terms of need and affect on the Conservation area’s setting. A main requirement for developments within the Conservation area is quality. Developments should achieve a high standard of design and detailing using high quality materials suited to the surroundings. Traditional style developments are acceptable providing that they are sympathetic and of a high quality. Contemporary or Modernist styles are also acceptable if they are high in quality and remain sympathetic to the existing and/or surrounding buildings. Planning Control decisions shall be based on the Amlwch Port Conservation Area Character Appraisal SPG. There is a presumption against demolition within Conservation areas if it results in a harm to its special character.

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