Pontypool Conservation Area Appraisal

Pontypool Conservation Area Appraisal

Local Planning Authorities are required to identify areas of special architectural or historic interest, and designate them as ‘Conservation Areas’. Pontypool Conservation Area was designated in 1984: it covers the central area of the town shown on Figure 1|.

 

Once a Conservation Area is designated Local Planning Authorities are required to formulate proposals that retain and enhance its special character, and, from time to time, review the boundary of the area.

 

This document was commissioned by Torfaen County Borough Council to meet this requirement. In addition it is intended to help inform the development of a regeneration strategy for the town, to provide a framework for the development of the detailed Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) that may be required by Local Authorities, and to support applications to major grant giving bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and Cadw.

Consultation

As the future of Pontypool lies with many different individuals and organisations, extensive consultations have played a key role in the development of this document. The aim of these consultations is to ensure that this appraisal considers all the issues that impact on the Conservation Area and that will effect its future management and prosperity.

History of Pontypool

Pontypool has been identified as the first industrial town in Wales, built on a long history of iron-making stretching back to the late Middle Ages, initially based on the local availability of iron ore, wood and power from the fast flowing Afon Llwyd. Much of the historic core that survives today, and that forms the Conservation Area, reflects prosperity in the 18^th and 19^th centuries from the expansion of iron-making and iron-working, and its related industries, including the production of ‘Japanware’ for which Pontypool became internationally renowned. Coal mining in the area, and the construction, first of the canal, and later the railway, also spurred the town’s development. Despite the demise of the Japanware industry, and the relocation elsewhere of iron making later in the 19^th Century, the economy of Pontypool as the main town of this area remained relatively buoyant until after the World War II.

 

Pontypool has experienced economic decline as its industrial base receded, and increasing competition from larger shopping centres in Cwmbrân and Newport. This has affected levels of investment in its historic building stock over recent years.