Plans For A New £1.7m Archives And Modern Records Centre In Llandrindod

Plans for a new £1.7m archives and modern records centre in Llandrindod Wells are nearing completion following approval of the funding by Powys County Council’s cabinet. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All the design and survey work is now completed for the refurbished facility, and the council is in the process of seeking tenders for the main construction works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council will develop a new base at Unit 29, Ddole Road in Llandrindod Wells that will house archives and modern records for the next 20 years. The move followed concern from the National Archives about the council’s ability to meet legal obligations back in 2011. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Property, Councillor Rosemarie Harris said: “A lot of hard work has gone into getting the design right for the new facility. The archives service is a statutory service and the council has to meet the accommodation standards to maintain its role. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are now seeking a contractor for the main construction works which will include replacing the roof of the current building, extending the office accommodation, and making provision for a public search-room where documents can be viewed. Inside we are creating two strongrooms to house the council’s own records and the historic archive collections with air handling units to control temperature and humidity. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The facility will have the capacity to house around 15,000 linear metres of records on mobile shelving around four metres high. Our archive documents date from 1318 to the present day and so it is important they are stored and protected for researchers to use and enjoy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Over the past year we have kept the National Archives and Welsh Government up to date with design and survey work, and have provided assurances to them that the project will deliver an excellent new facility.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Building works are expected to be completed next summer. Once all the archive collections are moved in the public search-room is planned to be open early autumn. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​