Historic Anglesey civic building could be turned into apartments

An historic, empty and deteriorating Anglesey civic building which has been targeted by vandals could be turned into “high quality” apartment homes if new plans go ahead.

Anglesey County Council has received a full application to convert the 19th-century Shire Hall building on Glanhwfa Road in Llangefni into seven residential units.

Applicant Tristan Haynes is proposing to “rejuvenate and protect” the building, by investing in “a high quality residential development”,  both within the existing building and the land between the river and the rear of the Shire Hall.

The property formerly housed the local and town council along with the magistrates courts and police station.

It is now said to be deteriorating due to the impact of vandalism and water ingress.

The Grade II-listed building is described as a “good example” of a late 19th century civic building.

At its front is a cenotaph which was built in the 1920s to commemorate the men of the parish who lost their lives in World War I.

The town house development is described as being  “a contemporary style” and would “contrast and complement” the existing Shire Hall.

The plans state: “This juxtaposition of styles has already been applied when the Shire Hall was renovated by the local authority a decade ago.

“Materials such as stone and slate will be used to reflect the materials used on the original building again paying tribute to the existing Shire Hall.

“The development will create a cluster of attractive buildings in context with the local authority offices, town library and other large scale buildings in the area.

“The sympathetic renovation and conversion of the Shire Hall building will be an expensive undertaking and will be unviable unless subsidised by a new build town house development to the rear.”

The town house development occupies approximately 831 square metres in total.

Parking is proposed to be provided via the public car parking spaces next to the town hall and opposite the town library.

The council’s pre-planning advice recommended that the design should “reflect the design of the Shire Hall building”.

A decision will be made on the application at a later date.

By Dale Spridgeon – Local Democracy Reporter