Llangefni area appraisal 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 © Archive Service, Isle of Anglesey County Council Permission must be sought from the Council before reproducing any part of the document. Contents Executive summary Major changes since designation The way forward Llangefni 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. Summarised below are elements that contribute to the character and appearance of the Llangefni Conservation area requiring preservation or enhancement. History • The nearby Tre-Garnedd Moated Site and Edward III’s recorded corn grist mill point to the area having a medieval history. • The Bulkeleys of Porthaml and Baron Hill were both instrumental to the town’s growth. • From 1765 a Turnpike Road was constructed that coursed through the hamlet of Llangefni. • A town market has been present since 1785. • The town is closely associated with two of Wales’ greatest Nonconformist preachers – Christmas Evans and John Elias. • The nineteenth century saw Llangefni’s stature as a leading market town grow. • In 1818 work began on the Telford Road which saw the town by-passed. • The opening of the Anglesey Central Railway as far as Llangefni in 1865 and to Amlwch by 1867 brought economic benefit. • The town’s present character was formed in the latter part of the C19th with the erection of many of its fine Civic and Public buildings. • In recent years a significant amount of large scale development has occurred on the periphery of the Conservation area. Setting • Llangefni is a small town occupying a sheltered position on the bank of the river Cefni. • Until 1760 the Afon Cefni would have been navigable up to the then little hamlet. • The Dingle Local Nature Reserve has won many awards including UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) award. • Many trees within the Conservation area have Tree Preservation Orders (TPO's) with significant specimen trees to be found in private grounds. • Trees have an important influence on their surroundings in residential areas and can contribute greatly to the overall character of the Conservation area. • Woodland trees play a major role in the character of the outer fringes of the Conservation area but less so in the town centre. • The town has well planned Victorian wide streets, a series of imposing public buildings, and spacious town square. • The sloping topography contributes to the stepped roof heights of terraces. Architecture • Victorian architecture is the dominant architectural style within the Conservation area. • The buildings hierarchy range from the meanly built flat-fronted working class terraces to the detached late Victorian brick villas and grand public and service buildings. • The varying roofscape is an extremely important characteristic of the town. • Staggered frontages also give the streets added character and architectural interest. • Dormers and dome windows are common features. • Nineteenth century sash type windows still survive. • Pilasters, Head cases, Finials, Capitals, Cornices and plaster surrounds are all decorative features that still survive. Major Changes since Designation In recent years a significant amount of large scale development has occurred on the periphery of the Conservation area e.g. New Housing estates, New Council Offices, Asda Store and expansion of the Bryn Cefni Industrial Estate. Despite their scale these developments have had little or no detrimental effect on the character of the designated area or its setting. Additional benefits of the Asda development have been the provision of a service road that re-directs traffic away from the busy town centre and the creation of an additional parking facility within the town. Llangefni has recently benefited from substantial amounts of public money investment e.g. Church Street environmental improvements, building enhancement schemes in the form of Town Improvement and Commercial Improvement Grants (e.g. Town Hall, The Bull Hotel and Mona House Coffee Shop), CCTV, as well as in public spaces including the Afon Cefni riverside walk and cycle path and Dingle Local Nature Reserve. It is hoped that along with the recent large scale developments this public money investment will stimulate the private investment required to complete the town’s transformation and confirm Llangefni as the County Town and place of business. The major developments and public investment have brought about economic benefits and restored confidence to the protected area and thus encouraged investment in the town centre building stock that will help safeguard their future and in turn the character of the town. 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 century. It is the loss of architectural detailing that often contributes greatly to the special character of the town that is at greatest risk primarily due to lack of building maintenance or unsympathetic alterations. The Way Forward There are a few sites within or on the fringes of the Conservation area that offer development opportunities e.g. Cross Keys, Shire Hall annex and Car Park, former Smithfield site and on land fronting the attractive Afon Cefni. However, any developments would need to be sympathetic to the character of the Conservation area or its setting. On a positive note the town’s prominent prestigious buildings are of a high quality and generally are in a good state of repair. Numerous original decorative details still survive with recent appropriate refurbishment schemes respecting the original character. The town has also benefited from recent public and private investment that will aid restore confidence. However, the negative side is that some buildings still suffer from a lack of general building maintenance. Inappropriate material has also been introduced to the Conservation area including: pebble dash and other wall cladding as well as uPVC or aluminium windows and doors. Previous shop front alterations and business 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 193,001m² to 221,512m². 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. Llangefni Conservation Area Development Guidance • Developments 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 town’s setting. • A main requirement for developments within the Conservation area is quality. • Developments should achieve a high standard of design and detailing and use high quality materials suited to their 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. •