ISLE of Anglesey County Council’s project to rejuvenate the Holyhead Market Hall in Holyhead has won the 2021 AJ100 Community Impact Award.

The Architects’ Journal judges described the Market Hall as a ‘stand-out winner’ and praised it for being a ‘building that matters’ and ‘feels embedded in the community’.

Purcell Architecture, which carried out the work on behalf of the council, was presented with the award last month.

The project was also hailed for having the potential of becoming an example for other town centre regeneration projects across the UK.

The ambitious project to revitalise the Market Hall was completed in September 2019.

The building is now home to the town’s library and provides an exciting new event and meeting space for the community and offices for new and growing businesses, the last of which is due to be occupied by December this year.

The historic Grade II listed building was originally constructed in 1855 and in its time it has been a traditional market hall, a barracks and a courthouse.

A centre of activity for North Anglesey for almost 150 years, by the 1990s the building was vacant, before it was acquired by the council in 2015.

Council staff have since worked tirelessly to ensure that the building could once again become a focal point for Holyhead and its residents.

Anglesey’s planning and public protection portfolio holder, Councillor Richard Dew, said: “To win this award is fantastic and it is a testament to the perseverance, skill and craftsmanship of everyone who worked on this exciting project.

“Working closely with Purcell Architecture and other partners, we are delighted to have been able to revitalise this important historic building on behalf of the people of Holyhead.

“The award also reflects the invaluable support of the community through what was a long process of acquiring the building, securing funding and the transition from an empty and derelict building.

“It’s great to see that it is now contributing to community life in the area once again. Further community based events and activities at the building are being planned for the next 12 months.”

Since re-opening, the Market Hall has won the RICS Social Impact Award 2020 for Heritage in Wales, the AJ100 Community Impact Award 2021, and was a Civic Trust Award 2021 regional finalist.

Economic development and tourism portfolio holder, Councillor Carwyn Jones, added: “First of all, I would like to congratulate everyone involved in this historic project for winning this prestigious award – it is fully deserved and a recognition of the fantastic work carried out throughout the project.

“This was an ambitious project which aimed to preserve an important civic building and a significant part of Holyhead’s rich history and heritage.

“It has now created a focal point for the local community and a meaningful space for its residents and local business. The project has also provided a welcome boost for the local economy.

“These benefits were made possible through the invaluable funding support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government and European Regional Development Fund.”