Glan Llyn

Glan Llyn
Glan Llyn
 Glan Llyn shown within Newport
OS grid referenceST368863
Principal areaNewport
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town NEWPORT
Postcode district NP19 4
Dialling code 01633
Maindee exchange
Llanwern exchange
Police Gwent
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK ParliamentNewport East
List of places
UK
Wales
Newport

Coordinates: 51°34′19″N 2°54′48″W / 51.57201°N 2.91331°W / 51.57201; -2.91331

Glan Llyn ("Gateway to the Moors") is a small settlement on the edge of the Caldicot Moors. The moors have a wealth of buried archaeology of international importance, including prehistoric and Roman landscapes which have been protected and preserved over the years by alluvial deposits.[1] Glan Llyn has been chosen as the brand name of a new mixed-use community development, in the east of Newport, south Wales on the heavy end of the former Llanwern steelworks.

Background

The steel production part of Llanwern steel works closed in 2001, leading to the loss of 1,300 jobs, although a finishing plant still remains in operation today. After the closure Corus Group started the process of finding a redevelopment partner, choosing St. Modwen Properties, who in 2004 bought a 600-acre (240 ha) package of land.[2] The redevelopment process started with the clearing of the former steel works buildings, and making the site environmentally safe. In 2010, this allowed the site to act as a Park & Ride facility for the 2010 Ryder Cup event at the Celtic Manor Resort.[3] Eventually up to 400,000 tonnes of concrete from the former steel works will be used in the redevelopment of the site.[4]

Brycheiniog, Llyswyry and Glan Llyn

The historic Llyswyry district of Newport was originally home to a monastic community on land owned by the Welsh king Brycheiniog. The Monks cared for the local sick, and it is from this that the nearby Spytty Park derives it name - Spytty is thought to be anglicised version of the Welsh for hospital. There are numerous references to the Monastery throughout the area, including the ancient and historical Monk's Ditch reen,[5] which now marks the boundary of the Glan Llyn development and the Celtic Business Park. There was also a manor house nearby (Traston Road), where the one of the King's many daughters lived. There is speculation that the name Glan Llyn (Lake side) could be a reference to either the lakeside location of the Monastery, or the actual manor house itself. The badge of the highly prestigious local Llyswyry High School includes graphical references to the areas history.

Redevelopment

St Modwen have set out a £1Bn mixed-use redevelopment plan for the site, which it is envisaged will take 20 years to complete, in circa 2026–28. The new community plan includes the construction of 4,000 homes, with a supporting infrastructure that includes schools, a police station, heritage and visitor centre, hotel, drive through coffee shop, discount supermarket, open spaces that will include two new lakes and a water theme park, new access roads, a GPs' surgery plus health and leisure facilities.[3][6]

The first phase was approved in April 2010 by Newport City Council, which will create 1,330 homes, the district centre, a primary school and the west lake.[3] After gaining specific planning permission in April 2011,[7] Persimmon plc started work on the construction of the first 307 homes in September 2011.[4] The Persimmon/Charles Church developments were completed in 2016. St Modwen is currently building houses around the Pools Park end of the development, and Bellway Homes commenced work on building further houses adjacent to the St Modwen site at Monk's Meadow in autumn 2016.

Facebook

Glan Llyn has a very active Facebook community page which was founded and administered by St Modwen Properties.[8]

Llanwern House and the Llanwern Bull

Lord Rhondda of Llanwern, David Alfred Thomas, who was Minister of Food during the First World War, took the lease of Llanwern House in 1897. He lived the life of an country squire, and one of his main passions was breeding prize Hereford cattle. His daughter, Lady Margaret, was a prominent suffragette.[9] Llanwern House was demolished in the 1950s, after falling into disrepair, the site of the house is still visible next to the Great Wood and St Marys Church, Llanwern, The house was reputedly haunted by the ghost of a mysterious black nun.[10]

In the 1940s and 1950s, before the development of the steelworks, local children would cross the seven stiles from Lliswerry over the fields at Llanwern to walk down to the Goldcliff seawall. At the time the fields were still home to Hereford Cattle, and on occasion their progess would be obstructed by one of the less friendly bulls. In June 2016, Marstons opened a new pub and restaurant, the Llanwern Bull.

In popular culture

The route of the South Wales Velothon passes through Glan Llyn. Several episodes of the popular science fiction series Doctor Who have been filmed in nearby Newport.[11]

Notable Residents

The local historian and councillor, Hugh Clark [12][13] was born nearby, and worked at Llanwern Steelworks for a number of years. Hugh served as both a Liberal and Liberal Democrat councillor for the Maindee ward for many years, and wrote several books about the area, including 'The Maindee Book' and the 'The Maindee Companion'. The actress and presenter Josie d'Arby was born in Newport, and attended the local Llyswyry High School.[14] Joe Strummer from the Clash lived in Newport between 1973 and 1974.[15]

In the Nick of Time

Glan Llyn is home to the mechanical clock known as "In the Nick of Time" created by sculptor Andy Plant.[16][17] The clock was commissioned and paid for by Newport Council at a cost of £100,000, as part of Ebbw Vale Garden Festival. On the hour, the structure would open to reveal the hidden characters inside. After the festival event the clock was relocated to John Frost Square, Newport, where it remained until the redevelopment of the area into Friars Walk. After almost seven years in storage it was finally relocated to the "Gateway" roundabout at Glan Llyn. The clock is a popular landmark in the area.

Parks and Recreation

The development currently has two main parks - Pools Park (including the Western Pools) and Western Park, both of which include man made lakes, and are home to an extensive range of wildfowl. Pools Park was original home to the Spencer Steel Works Angling Club, and was originally located just inside the main entrance to the steel works. The parks are popular with local residents, as well as visitors to the nearby Newport Retail Park.

A smaller park for younger children is also located in Brinell Square.

The development is close to a number of popular tourist attractions, including the RSPB reserve at the Newport Wetlands and the world-famous Newport Transporter Bridge.

Cathedral of the Moors

The parish church of St. Mary the Virgin (known locally as the Cathedral of the Moors) [18] is located nearby in West Nash. The church is notable for its tower and spire, and is Grade I listed, dating from the 12th century.

Newport Retail Park

Glan Llyn is located next to Newport Retail Park. The retail park has a wide range of shops including Tesco, Marks and Spencer, Next, Asdas as well as restaurants and coffee shops. Next to the retail park is a leisure complex with a Cineworld multiplex cinema, gymnasium, and Home Bargains. Sir Tom Jones performed a concert at the former Gala Bingo Hall (now Boots the Chemist) in the late 1980s.

Between the retail and leisure parks there are a number of European and Korean car dealerships including Citroen and Kia.

Public transport

The development does not feature on any of the local bus routes. There are plans for a small railway halt at the far end of the development.

Business park

Celtic Business Park is an adjoining development on 100 acres (40 ha) of the site. When complete it will cover 1,500,000 square feet (140,000 m2) and generate 6,000 jobs.[3][4]

Politics and representation

Glan Lyn is part of the Llanwern electoral ward, which itself is part of the Newport East UK parliamentary constituency.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Historic Landscape Characterisation - The Gwent Levels". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "£200m investment for Llanwern". BBC Wales. 16 February 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Green light for Newport's new '£1bn community'". British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "Work starts on £1bn Llanwern steel site development". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Monk's Ditch". Pantalocal. 30 March 1978. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "4,000 homes given go-ahead on ex-steelworks site". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  7. ↑ "Persimmon plans homes on former Llanwern steel site". British Broadcasting Corporation. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "Glan Llyn Community Facebook Page". St Modwen Properties. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "Turning the Tide: The Life of Lady Rhondda". The Independent. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "The Black Nun of Glan Llyn". 1 April 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "Five Doctor Who Locations in Newport". South Wales Argus. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Maindee Faces - Hugh Clark". Building a New Maindee. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  13. ↑ "Well respected former Lib Dem Councillor dies". South Wales Argus. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  14. ↑ "The Original Famous Welsh Website". 3 January 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "Plaque for Clash Legend Joe Strummer". BBC News. 22 July 2005. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "Remember this? Newport's iconic Festival Clock is back after spending seven years in storage and is being rebuilt at the Glan Llyn development near Llanwern". South Wales Argus. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  17. ↑ "Andy Plant - Maker of Wonderful Things". Andy Plant. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  18. ↑ "St Mary the Virgin Church, Nash, Newport". History Points Org. Retrieved 16 August 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.