Wales Office Minister Dame Nia Griffith has witnessed first-hand the progress being made on two projects involving Hughes Architects during her visit to the Montgomery Canal restoration works in Welshpool, Powys.
Dame Nia visited Y Lanfa, the historic canalside warehouse that houses Welshpool Library and Powysland Museum, where a £1 million transformation designed by Hughes Architects is nearing completion on behalf of client Powys County Council.
The Minister also viewed the canalside cottages, which have been refurbished to temporarily house the library whilst the main building works are completed.
Richard Lewis, Architect and Director at Hughes Architects said: "From the outset, the vision for Y Lanfa has been about much more than simply renovating bricks and mortar. We see this scheme as an enabler, unlocking the immense potential of the canal side to become a catalyst for the regeneration of the entire town."
The Y Lanfa project represents a significant conservation challenge, with Hughes Architects working on the Grade II listed building to create additional floor space under a new glass canopy, establish a flexible community and display area, and remodel the museum galleries.
The design also includes installing a new lift, solar panels, and air handling units whilst resurfacing the wharf area to reduce flooding risk and improve accessibility.
Dame Nia's visit highlighted the collaborative funding that has made these projects possible.
The Y Lanfa improvements are part of the £14 million Montgomery Canal Restoration project, which secured UK Government Levelling Up funding. The National Lottery Heritage Fund contributed £164,000 towards the cost of the work on Y Lanfa, while the Welsh Government put £140,000 towards the refurbishment of the canalside cottages on the same site, as part of its Transforming Towns programme.
"It's fantastic to see the huge progress that's being made to restore the Montgomery Canal and preserving our industrial heritage for generations to come," said Wales Office Minister Dame Nia Griffith during a visit to Welshpool. "Funding from the UK Government has enabled this ambitious plan to be delivered, creating jobs, supporting the tourist industry, and restoring vital wildlife habitats."
The canalside cottages, also Grade II listed, have been carefully refurbished by Hughes Architects to provide a temporary home for Welshpool Library during the main construction phase. The cottages now offer book borrowing, public-access computers, and serve as a customer service point for Powys County Council services, maintaining continuity of service throughout the works.
This project demonstrates Hughes Architects' expertise in conservation architecture, with Doug Hughes being one of only 176 RIBA accredited Conservation Architects in the UK. The practice has successfully balanced the need to preserve the historic character of both the warehouse and cottages whilst creating modern, functional spaces that serve the community's needs.
The Welshpool-based contractor SWG Group, working just across the canal from their headquarters, has been implementing Hughes Architects' designs throughout the project.
The library, which is currently hosted in the nearby Canalside Cottages, is set to reopen in September 2025. The Powysland Museum is expected to reopen towards the end of 2025.
The projects form part of the wider Montgomery Canal restoration initiative, which aims to restore a 4.4-mile section of the historic waterway whilst creating better environments for both people and wildlife. Dame Nia's visit underscored the significance of this heritage-led regeneration approach, demonstrating how careful architectural intervention can preserve industrial heritage whilst creating modern community facilities.
The projects highlight how conservation architecture can drive wider regeneration, with the restored canalside facilities expected to become a focal point for Welshpool's continued development as both a heritage destination and thriving market town.
Photo courtesy of Powys County Council (client)
