Our Projects
A group of children in a churchyard – taking part in the South Humber Bank Wildlife and People project

Case Study - Cefn Mawr 

Programme: All 
Applicant: Wrexham County Council 
Grant awarded: £1,000,000 
Project length: 5 years 

Cefn Mawr THI, Wales printable (MS Word, 4.09KB) 

Summary

Built in a geologically diverse area, Cefn Mawr was developed in the 18th and 19th centuries as a consequence of the exploitation of local outcrops of millstone grit, sandstone, coal, iron ore and clay. 

By the mid-19th century the area had become a densely populated industrial landscape. The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) scheme focuses on the commercial centre of the Cefn Mawr, which is also a designated Conservation Area. It is dominated by traditional buildings in need of investment, repair and enhancement. 

The Cefn Mawr area suffers from a low wage economy and is viewed as being in long term decline reflected in high unemployment and low owner occupancy, with property values significantly below those of adjacent towns. The broad aim of Cefn Mawr THI is to preserve the historic environment and increase the economic activity in the village’s commercial centre. This in turn will help safeguard and create employment opportunities, utilising the historic environment as a positive resource.

The aims of the project

  • Restoration of identified historic fabric in order to encourage sustainability; reinforce links with other initiatives and the local development trust.
  • Build on the existing regeneration strategy for the area and allow for the development of an integrated and holistic approach to regeneration and conservation. 
  • Recruitment of a THI project officer.
  • Restoration and repair of nine critical and priority buildings.  
  • Eight vacant critical and priority properties brought back into use.
  • Repair of five traditional critical and priority shop fronts.
  • 22 new jobs created through the THI scheme.
  • Provision of a series awareness days to build the profile of Cefn Mawr historic significance. Including Traditional Building Skills Awareness Days, Homeowners Days and Open Heritage Days.

Benefits for heritage

  • Restoration of key buildings in the conservation area, in order to restore the historic environment, reverse adverse effects on Cefn Mawr’s commercial centre and improve the area’s prospects as a place to live, work and visit.
  • Repair of key buildings / features and shop fronts to encourage and incentivise investment in more than just the basic repairs to properties.

Benefits for people

  • Improved local understanding of heritage value and need through the historical assessment of the town.
  • Improved appreciation within the community of the heritage and built environment importance in the conservation area.
  • Reduction of vacant upper floor space in the commercial centre to encourage business and investment into the area.
  • Educational and training initiatives provided through the scheme, such as a Traditional Building Skills Project in conjunction with Denbighshire and Flintshire councils.

Lessons learnt

  • Meaningful engagement with local communities has been key to the THI’s success. This started with extensive consultations and developing early partnerships with key community groups such as the Dee Valley Community Partnership.
  • Developing a clear vision for the town and links with wider strategies has been key to keeping a focused scheme.
  • Strong joint working arrangements between different Departments of the Council have brought existing tried-and-tested project management systems to bear in the scheme’s management. The integration of housing grants with the THI has allowed the scheme to achieve enhanced outputs, and create valuable residential space in historic buildings.

Long term benefits

  • The local development trust has found sustainable uses for some of the key vacant properties in the town. This project involved complete refurbishment of a former furniture showroom to create three new residential units while retaining ground floor retail premises including the restoration of the historic shop front.
  • Conversion of the redundant Ebenezer Chapel and development of a public square in front has created a new focal point for community activity/events in the centre of village. The chapel is now run by the local community through the Dee Valley Community Partnership. The Atrium of the Chapel provides a new home for the Cefn Mawr and District Heritage Group, including a stained glass installation depicting ‘A History of Cefn Mawr in Glass’.
  • World Heritage Site (WHS) status for the adjacent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal has encouraged a coordinated approach to the management of heritage in the area and the community is keen to engage with the possibilities that this brings for heritage-led regeneration.
  • Development of lasting community partnerships and the establishment of a local heritage forum which operates a drop-in heritage information exchange manned by volunteers and based in the Ebenezer Chapel.

The budget

Main Project Costs
£
Funding
£
Repair and conservation work
2,282,762
 Total Partnership funding 481,675
Professional fees
253,313
 In-kind contributions incl. M&M and volunteer time 275,820
Enhanced Management and Maintenance (incl. new staff)
275,820
 HLF grant (74.5%) 8,700
Other activity costs 159,100    
Total costs
2,970,995





Renovated shop front  

The complete Maypole Dairy building 

Sector

Buildings and Monuments 

Activity

Conservation