Crumlin Navigational Colliery

Client: Prince’s Regeneration Trust
Location: Crumlin, Caerphilly, South Wales
Date: 2017

We were appointed by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust to prepare a report setting out future end-use scenarios for the unique Navigational Colliery in Crumlin, South Wales. The purpose of the report was to set out clear and realistic end-use scenarios in the context of the funding and local government environment in 2017.

The Crumlin site comprises the finest group of colliery buildings remaining in the South Wales coalfield. It was constructed between 1907 and 1911 at a time when South Wales was the largest coal exporting region in the world. The mine was closed in 1967 and today, the site contains a range of un-used and semi-derelict buildings and structures. Eleven buildings are Listed at Grade II or II*. In addition to the challenges presented by the poor condition of the buildings the site includes a large culverted section of the River Ebbw and experiences a range of contamination issues associated with its previous use.

Our role was to quickly assimilate information about the site, review current issues and opportunities and provide concise advice on how the site could be comprehensively regenerated to provide a vibrant new part of Crumlin. The report was prepared at an exciting time for South Wales with the recent ratification of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and major investment committed to funding infrastructure improvements. These factors, and others, created a window of opportunity for the project to overcome many of the constraints present at the site.

Specific services and outputs:

• Policy and strategy review
• Socio-economic research
• Property market research
• Visioning and option development
• Delivery and implementation advice.