Ruperra Castle highest priority in Caerphilly's new strategy

Five listed buildings at risk on the Ruperra Castle site are in the high priority action plan. Ruperra Castle is described as "structurally unsound with multiple failures - loss may follow in short term" and is the highest priority for action of the 72 listed buildings at risk in the borough.

Caerphilly Borough County Council is considering a new buildings at risk strategy. On Tuesday 7 November the Corporate and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee will consider the strategy prior to consideration by Cabinet. The Buildings at Risk Register and Strategy sets out a framework for the preservation and enhancement of listed buildings at risk over the period 2023-2028.

The 2022 Listed Buildings condition survey commissioned by Cadw covered 433 listed buildings in the Borough. The new strategy considers a holistic approach to groups of buildings wherever possible. Of the 72 buildings identified as "at risk" 31 (43%) are located within one of six distinct groups as follows:

• Ruperra Castle
• Navigation Colliery
• Penallta Colliery
• Llanbradach Colliery
• Susannah Houses
• Gelli Farm, Trinant.

The strategy states that the circumstances of each group means a holistic approach to each site is more likely to produce a positive outcome, however, should an opportunity arise to bring back one building within a group outside of this strategy it should be considered on its own merits.

We are pleased to see that Ruperra Castle is first in the High Priority Action Plan in Appendix C page 35 - "Scheduled Monument structurally unsound with multiple failures - loss may follow in short term."

The other listed structures at risk in the High Priority Action Plan include:

• Glasshouse to north-east of Ruperra Castle - "Widespread and serious defects, the loss of the building is possible in the short/medium term." Number 7 in the priority list of buildings at risk
• Generating House and attached workshops to north-west of Ruperra Castle - "Condition is very poor, main structural elements serviceable but many areas need major work or replacement."  Number 16 in the priority list of buildings at risk
• Summer House to north-east of Ruperra Castle - "Condition is very poor, main structural elements serviceable but many areas need major work or replacement." Number 28 in the priority list of buildings at risk
• Former Dairy and Laundry to north of Ruperra Castle - "Major repair or replacement of defective elements now needed, rapid action is required." Number 37 in the priority list of buildings at risk.

There are two more listed buildings at risk on site that aren't in the High Priority Action Plan:

• Stable And Coach-House Courtyard Ranges To North Of Ruperra Castle
  
• Castellated Boundary Wall To Ha-Ha To East And South Of Ruperra Castle.

View the Buildings at Risk Register and Strategy

The meeting will take place on Tuesday 7 November at 17:30 and is agenda item 9. Find out more about the meeting and access the link for the live webcast