Llandudno Junction Regeneration Proposals for the Future December 2009
Llandudno Junction - Vision Statement 1 Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this document is to describe key priorities to support the regeneration of Llandudno Junction. It will help to inform and provide the context for a programme of projects that together, will support the sustainable regeneration of the area. 2 Background 2.1 The importance of Llandudno Junction as an employment centre stems from its historic development as a major rail junction and goods handling facility. Today, the area is still considered a major strategic hub on the threshold of economic growth. There are several development commitments and plans for investment in and around the area that present new challenges and opportunities for the regeneration of the town. 2.2 Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) and the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), recognise the importance of Llandudno Junction with both the Council s Corporate Plan 2008-12 and Wales Spatial Plan, highlighting a commitment to maximising the development of the area. Llandudno Junction is a key gateway and part of a central hub in North Wales. It encompasses Conwy, Llandudno and Colwyn Bay connecting North East Wales and North West Wales, and is recognised as a key regional economic driver. 2.3 To gain a better understanding of the existing and future role of Llandudno Junction, within the context of Conwy and the wider region, CCBC and the WAG commissioned a master plan to be prepared for the area, which was completed in May 2009. Stakeholder workshops and a public consultation event in 2008, helped to inform the plan and vision developed. There was a strong feeling that Llandudno Junction needed to be given an identity, which has been captured in the vision created. Llandudno Junction will become a distinctive community and a key economic hub at the heart of North Wales 2.4 To deliver the vision, the master plan identifies key themes: Economy Place Making Transport and Infrastructure Community, Welsh Language and Culture Sustainability and Environment 3 Development Opportunities 3.1 The master plan for Llandudno Junction has helped to inform development priorities for the area and CCBC will need to work with its partners towards delivering the vision. 1
3.2 Listed below are a number of projects, development ideas and opportunities that have the capability of bringing significant long term benefits to the town. 3.3 Improvement and Development of Conwy Road There is an opportunity to re-establish and strengthen the role and function of Conwy Road, offering a wide range of facilities for local residents, workers and visitors to the area. The re-location of the WAG regional offices creates a landmark development that will have a positive economic impact on the town. The influx of several hundred jobs being located in the area and the potential of new and relocating businesses gaining from proximity to a major WAG establishment, will offer job opportunities and local economic benefits. 3.4 The benefits can be maximised through creating an improved and welcoming environment that will encourage people to spend more time in Conwy Road, creating more trade and activity. This can be achieved through a number of schemes - to improve existing commercial premises, enhancing streetscape, environmental improvements and exploring opportunities to create an open space to act as a focal point; traffic and parking enhancements; encouraging investment opportunities and working with WAG and developers to bring forward developments at the Point Business Park; and the redevelopment of Conwy Road east, all of which will help to create a distinctive and vibrant town. 3.5 Development of Llanduno Junction West The potential redevelopment of the former Brickworks and connected sites provide an exciting opportunity to significantly enhance the retail, leisure and employment opportunities for the benefit of the local and wider community and has the potential to contribute significantly to the regional economy. The development of this area has the added potential to support the tourism economy, providing a key gateway to North Wales, Snowdonia, Llandudno, Conwy and the Conwy Valley. 3.6 The expansion of the Conwy Business Centre would enable it to be further developed as a business and training centre. The expansion would create additional provision to encourage and support new and existing local enterprises. 3.7 Improved accessibility between this area and Llandudno Junction will be an integral part of the development. 3.8 Enhancing Community Facilities There are a few community facilities pepper-potted within the residential areas of the town. Their nature, location and future sustainability is uncertain. 3.9 Improved community facilities can support a stronger community by clustering a range of services for a variety of ages, user groups and interests. The views of local people and supporting community enterprises will be important to improve the sustainability of existing facilities and determine the nature and location of new ones. The Council will also need to work with partners in the health sector to consider how health care facilities can be improved. 2
3.10 Improving Transport and Accessibility Llandudno Junction has many positive transport attributes which relate to its proximity to the highway network, good public transport system, which includes rail and local bus connections, and links with the National Cycle Route which runs through the area. 3.11 However, the railway line and A55 create a significant barrier to pedestrian movement, there being a limited number of crossing points and unattractive routes around the major junctions. This is replicated on a smaller scale throughout the residential area, with a limited choice of routes available to access local facilities. 3.12 To ensure there are easy and excellent levels of accessibility around the local facilities and the surrounding area, consideration will need to be given to the opportunities to improve the choice of walking and cycling routes and car and cycle parking provision. 3.13 Improvements to the public transport provision, particularly in relation to new developments, will be critical in encouraging a shift away from private car use and establishing sustainable travel choices. 3.14 An integral part of the development of Llandudno Junction will be the provision of improved and safe pedestrian links between retail, leisure, cultural and business facilities, including: The Point Business Park Conwy Road The Retail and Leisure facilities at Llandudno Junction west The Estuary, Conwy Cob and onwards to the World Heritage Site This will encourage the flow of pedestrians between these different areas and will be critical in capitalising upon the potential to increase expenditure in the area. 3.15 Primary School Modernisation Llandudno Junction currently has 2 primary schools, neither of which satisfies the Council s adopted standard in terms of facilities. Options are currently being explored to improve primary school facilities in the area as part of the Primary School Modernisation project. 3.16 Regeneration and Renewal of Residential Neighbourhoods Investment is needed in the physical condition of existing social properties to improve the environment and quality of life. To bring homes up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by 2012, Housing Associations have improvement programmes in place and will be upgrading homes so that they reach this standard and will continue to ensure that all homes are kept to this standard in the future. 3.17 As part of the package to develop Conwy Road, opportunities to improve the exteriors of some privately owned properties in areas adjacent to Conwy Road should be considered. Improvement works through face-lifting and enveloping schemes would normally be undertaken as part of an area housing renewal programme. Consideration will need to be given to undertaking a Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment which would confirm the locality s eligibility for designation as a Housing Renewal Area, should the required resources be available. 3
3.18 New housing provision within the area will contribute to the promotion of sustainable lifestyles and encourage the existing and future younger population to remain and work in the area. 3.19 It has been recognised that green open spaces within the area are in short supply and are generally of low quality. Green spaces can provide opportunities to improve neighbourhoods, providing multi-functional uses such as wildlife, recreational and cultural experiences. Consideration will need to be given to developing new, and improving existing open spaces, which can help develop the image and environmental quality of the area and can help towards improving the quality of community life. 3.20 Potential for Rail Freight To take advantage of its strategic network position for North Wales and its close proximity to the A55, consideration will need to be given to the opportunities for a new freight terminal in Llandudno Junction, which would create employment and economic benefits for the area. This has been identified as an opportunity within the North Wales Freight Strategy. 4 Next Steps 4.1 As the individual ideas and opportunities within this document are developed in more detail, the communities of Llandudno Junction will be consulted. Contact Information More information is available at www.conwy.gov.uk/llandudnojunction or alternatively e-mail: llandudnojunction@conwy.gov.uk tel: 01492 576128 4
Background Information to Llandudno Junction Llandudno Junction is a small town with a population of 6,400, in the north of Wales, being only 5 miles south of Llandudno and coast and lies within the County Borough of Conwy. It adjoins Deganwy and lies east, across the River Conwy, from the walled town of Conwy, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. Llandudno Junction s genesis was the arrival of the railway to this part of Wales during the mid Victorian period. The original station, (located to the west of the current building) was built in 1858 and served the branch line to Llandudno. A second branch was built in 1863 - the Conwy Valley Line - which headed south to Betws-y-Coed and later to Ffestiniog and was built by the Conway and Llanrwst Railway that became part of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) in 1867. Deganwy Pier was constructed by the London and North Western Railway Company in the 1880s and was used for mixed export and import, especially slate from the inland slate mines at Ffestiniog. The Conwy Valley line follows the valley of the River Conwy to Llanrwst (where it originally terminated) and Betws-y-Coed (later the terminus). It then follows the Lledr Valley, with a two mile long tunnel, to terminate at Blaenau Ffestiniog where passengers can join the Ffestiniog Railway. In 1897, in response to strong passenger and freight traffic growth, the present station was opened on a much larger site, offering six through lines with two platform bays at each end. The station was adjacent to the motive power depot. These, and the former adjoining goods yard, has since been redeveloped, accommodating a business park, fast food outlets, a leisure centre, a Cineworld multiplex cinema, and a Tesco supermarket. In addition to the railway, Llandudno Junction has been home to many further industries, the largest of which was the Hotpoint factories. These provided employment for the area and encouraged the development of other industries. Unfortunately the factories closed down and local employment opportunities changed significantly in the latter quarter of the 20th century, with the loss of the factories and the railway depots. Today, the predominant land use is housing, largely on modern cul-de-sac estates. There are few community facilities within the residential neighbourhoods. Local retail is clustered along Conwy Road, which forms the town s principal high street. To the far west of the area, around Glan-y-Mor Road, is a mixed use area of housing, employment, service and retail uses. To the south of the railway line is the main employment and industrial areas. 5