Gothic Revival style villa in seaside town being demolished for affordable flats
The development is being carried out for North Wales Housing by Beech Developments. They said the 15 apartment would be their first new housing scheme in the Conwy County since 2019.
A spokesperson said: "Our last newbuild development here was at Nant Eirias in Colwyn Bay, completed in 2019, and we're proud to once again be contributing to the local housing landscape. The site at 228 Abergele Road previously housed a substantial late 19th-century villa in the Gothic Revival style, typical of its time and closely tied to the historic growth of Old Colwyn and the broader North Wales coast.
"While the building had architectural interest, a full heritage impact assessment was undertaken. The property was not listed, was outside of a conservation area, and did not appear on Conwy Council's list of Buildings and Structures of Local Interest.
"Demolition will begin this week to make way for much-needed social and affordable housing, supporting our ongoing mission to provide high-quality homes across North Wales in communities where people love to live."
Local developers, Beech Developments (NW) Ltd will be constructing the new build using a modern method of construction called insulated concrete formwork (ICF). This method consists of blocks made from an insulating material, which combines with concrete resulting in an extra warm home built to the highest standards.
Nichola Chegwin, NWH's Development Project Manager, said: 'This is an exciting week for North Wales Housing as we begin to see the start of our new build development in the prominent location of Old Colwyn, Conwy. The ICF construction method combined with new technologies will result in high quality homes for the local community.'
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North Wales Live
3 days ago
- North Wales Live
Gothic Revival style villa in seaside town being demolished for affordable flats
A Gothic Revival style villa in a seaside town is being demolished to make way for affordable flats. The 19th Century property is on Abergele Road that runs between Old Colwyn and Colwyn Bay. The development is being carried out for North Wales Housing by Beech Developments. They said the 15 apartment would be their first new housing scheme in the Conwy County since 2019. A spokesperson said: "Our last newbuild development here was at Nant Eirias in Colwyn Bay, completed in 2019, and we're proud to once again be contributing to the local housing landscape. The site at 228 Abergele Road previously housed a substantial late 19th-century villa in the Gothic Revival style, typical of its time and closely tied to the historic growth of Old Colwyn and the broader North Wales coast. "While the building had architectural interest, a full heritage impact assessment was undertaken. The property was not listed, was outside of a conservation area, and did not appear on Conwy Council's list of Buildings and Structures of Local Interest. "Demolition will begin this week to make way for much-needed social and affordable housing, supporting our ongoing mission to provide high-quality homes across North Wales in communities where people love to live." Local developers, Beech Developments (NW) Ltd will be constructing the new build using a modern method of construction called insulated concrete formwork (ICF). This method consists of blocks made from an insulating material, which combines with concrete resulting in an extra warm home built to the highest standards. Nichola Chegwin, NWH's Development Project Manager, said: 'This is an exciting week for North Wales Housing as we begin to see the start of our new build development in the prominent location of Old Colwyn, Conwy. The ICF construction method combined with new technologies will result in high quality homes for the local community.'
Wales Online
13-07-2025
- Wales Online
Concerns over building firm hired to work on beloved Welsh attraction
Concerns over building firm hired to work on beloved Welsh attraction A whistleblower fears the project could 'turn into an absolute farce' Castell Coch in Tongwynlais, Cardiff (Image: Matthew Horwood/Getty ) Concerns have been raised over the choice of subcontractor for a key conservation project at a beloved Welsh tourist attraction. SSH Conservation Ltd – which last month changed its name to AAT (2025) Ltd – recently fell into administration owing more than £1.25m. A new company, led by one of the same directors, has taken on the SSH Conservation Ltd name and landed a major contract to work on Castell Coch, a 19th-century Gothic Revival castle in Tongwynlais, north Cardiff. The older firm's debts include £956,576 owed to the taxman but the Welsh Government says it has been assured "all necessary due diligence" was carried out in the tender. The Grade I-listed landmark is controlled by Cadw, the Welsh Government's historic environment service, which has contracted a £2.52m conservation job involving the castle's well and kitchen towers to John Weaver Contractors Ltd – which in turn has now subcontracted a portion of the upcoming work to SSH. A source close to the project claimed to WalesOnline that the value of the work contracted to SSH is around £500,000. Companies House paperwork lists the older company's debts as totalling £1,256,834 to some 86 creditors including various small businesses and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). "Employees" are listed as unsecured creditors owed £44,188. Article continues below "The company had 21 employees," the administrators wrote last month. "However as a result of the administration they have all been made redundant." The new SSH was registered on Companies House in January as 'Abacus Building Conservation' before adopting its current name last month. It has yet to file accounts. The sole director is 51-year-old Jacob Motley, who is one of the three directors of the older business. Our source voiced concern the project could "turn into an absolute farce" if the new firm encounters difficulties. A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: "Following a rigid procurement and appointment process Cadw contracted John Weavers Contractors (JWC) as the main contractors in 2024 to carry out conservation work to the well and kitchen towers of Castell Coch. "Subsequent tender processes for domestic subcontractors were managed internally by JWC and one of the appointed subcontractors is SSH Conservation, who this year will be undertaking repointing, masonry repairs, and dismantling and rebuilding chimneys on both towers and have the necessary skills to undertake this specialist work." She added: "JWC have provided full assurances to Cadw that all necessary due diligence had been carried out." In a statement last month AAT's administrators, FRP Advisory, wrote that they did not believe the company could be rescued as a "going concern" due to "the level of historic debt". They went on: "In this administration it is proposed that the administrators will take the necessary steps to dissolve the company as it is not anticipated there will be any funds available for distribution to unsecured creditors." Why did the firm fall into administration? In a summary of AAT's struggles its administrators wrote last month: "The company was acquired by the current director in 2022 by way of management buyout and shortly thereafter began experiencing financial difficulties when it fell into arrears with HMRC and entered into a time-to-pay arrangement. "Escalating costs together with losses on some projects caused the company to reach a point where it breached the arrangement. "Its financial statements show that in the year ended March 31, 2024, it had a turnover of some £7.2m but reported a loss of £466,000. The directors sought advice from insolvency practitioners at FRP Advisory but owing to its insurmountable liabilities the company was placed into administration on April 22, 2025." Sally Strachey Historic Conservation Ltd was formed in Somerset in 2010 and shortened its name to SSH Conservation last year before changing its name to AAT last month. The SSH website says: "We undertake the repair and conservation of historic fabric across a range of projects that incorporate architectural stonework, archaeological sites, museum pieces, church monuments, historic plaster and render, sculpture, polychrome, and decorative surfaces." The conservation project is anticipated to take two years from when it began in April 2024. "Very damp conditions" in the well tower had been "damaging the fabric of the building", says Cadw. SSH and JWC declined to respond to questions. Article continues below If you know of a story we should be investigating email us at
North Wales Live
27-06-2025
- North Wales Live
Airbnb owner told to tear down 'prison-camp watchtower' built in garden
The owner of an Airbnb let in Conwy has been told to tear down a "prison-camp watchtower" built in the garden of the property. The "monstrous" tower was built at the site of the holiday let on Tan y Bryn Road in Rhos on Sea without planning permission in January 2024. It sparked fury from neighbours, with neighbours saying the structure was blighting their day-to-day lives. JAM Domestic Properties Ltd had submitted a number of retrospective planning applications to retain the "garden room", but these were refused. Conwy Council has now confirmed they have ordered the structure be removed. A spokesperson said: "An enforcement notice has been served which requires the removal of the structure.' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands the enforcement notice took effect on 17 June, but the developer has 10 weeks from that date to appeal. Neighbour Nick Whitmore, 35, said his family was thrilled the enforcement notice had been served. Mr Whitmore has lived at his home since 2021 but said the tower had compromised the family's quality of life at their dream home. He said: "We are looking forward to the structure coming down. It dominates our property and our neighbours. They can't even sit at their breakfast table without it being overlooked, and it is the same for lots of other houses in the locality. 'So we are thrilled they've been served with an enforcement notice and are looking forward to it being pulled down.' He added: 'It will mean we no longer have such a dominating and intrusive structure, which is so overbearing, looking over our garden or our neighbours' gardens.' A previous planning statement provided by Cadnant Planning in support of the application read: 'Views from the raised platform into neighbouring properties were recognized as being available from the initial planning consent. 'The proposed development is not considered to lead to an acceptable increase to this and is not considered to have a detrimental impact on privacy or residential amenity to neighbouring properties, and therefore would be acceptable on this basis.' They declined to comment on behalf of JAM Domestic Properties in relation to the enforcement notice. Public notices in your area
