Major Milestone Reached In Holyhead Market Hall’s History

Isle of Anglesey County Council has welcomed a decision by the Welsh Government to confirm a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) served on the owner of the former Holyhead Market Hall. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Confirmation of the CPO has been hailed as a major milestone in the efforts to protect and provide a new use for the historic building. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anglesey’s Planning and Orders Committee had already voted in favour of the CPO for the historic building back in March 2015 – should the owner, who is based in the North West of England, fail to comply with a Repairs Notice served by the Council. The Repairs Notice required the owner to carry out significant repairs to the dilapidated building. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A Public Inquiry was held by a Planning Inspector on behalf of the Welsh Ministers in December 2015 in Holyhead Town Council’s Chamber, following a decision by the owner to challenge the CPO served by the Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Welsh Government backing for the CPO now requires the owner to sell the building to Isle of Anglesey County Council, who will be relocating the town Library there and creating additional space for other services and users. This decision builds on the recent Listed Building Consent secured for the conversion and necessary repairs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive Planning portfolio holder, Councillor Richard Dew, said, “The Welsh Government’s decision totally vindicates the great efforts made by the County Council to protect this important historic building for future generations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We were naturally very disappointed that the owner decided to challenge the CPO, given the lack of regard for the historic building’s long term future over recent years.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The County Council’s main consideration has always been about the preservation of the locally valued historic building and getting it back into use as soon as possible. We warned the owner time and time again over a five year period that we would go down the compulsory purchase route, as a last resort, should repair works not get underway. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This has been a joint effort by a number of Council Services, including Planning, Libraries, Property and Economic Development with the invaluable support of NPLaw for Legal Services, and the CPO could not have been secured without their support and co-operation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added, “It has been a frustrating and drawn out process due to the lack of action from the site owner in carrying out the necessary work to address the building’s poor condition and vacancy despite statutory notices.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The rejection of the CPO appeal will now allow us to purchase the site and start to develop the building which will have significant community and economic benefits to the town of Holyhead and surrounding area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The County Council will move to conclude final procedural matters before taking ownership, with work on site hopefully starting this autumn. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​