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The Working Group met on 12 March 2026 to consider how Swansea Council protects and restores empty heritage assets, including listed buildings at risk and scheduled monuments. The minutes record six conclusions and recommendations for the Cabinet Members, including a request that the Big Apple in Mumbles be treated as an urgent priority. The Convener wrote to the Cabinet Members on 26 March, and they replied on 16 April 2026.
There were no disclosures of personal and prejudicial interests.
None.
No public questions were received.
Cllr Hopkins and several officers attended to give an overview of their briefing, give a presentation and answer questions from group members. The report and presentation highlighted the breadth of heritage assets, the collaborative, cross‑departmental approach, recent restoration activity, engagement with CADW, future challenges, and the mixture of council owned, privately owned, vulnerable, and at risk assets, The Panel asked several questions on the local Listed Buildings at Risk Register and heard that CADW is undertaking a new national survey of Swansea’s 515 listed buildings, and the local register will be aligned with this process and updated more regularly going forward. Officers outlined a proactive approach to deteriorating privately owned buildings, engaging closely with owners with enforcement as a last resort due to cost. Works on privately owned sites was discussed including delays on urgent cases, upcoming funding programmes, community based or Trust based stewardship, historic churches and CADW engagement. Scheduled monuments were queried, officers explained that conservation management plans are developed, including safety access considerations, cyclical maintenance, and collaboration with local groups. In ensuring sustainability of restored heritage buildings, Members were informed that correct materials, detailed specifications, and ongoing condition monitoring are critical. Building Services work with heritage officers to ensure appropriate maintenance and secure external funding for capital works where possible. In relation to community engagement, officers gave examples including work placements, school visits, heritage interpretation projects, collaborations with friends groups and growing traditional skills. Members were introduced to Data Map Wales, a publicly accessible map showing listed buildings and scheduled monuments. When discussing funding, Members heard that the Local Growth Fund is expected to include strands that support heritage and placemaking activity. Lessons learned and officer capacity were also discussed. Members were told that whilst specialist resource is small, cross departmental working significantly increases capacity.
From their discussions the Working Group Members made the following conclusions and recommendations which are summarised below: 1. The Working Group noted excellent cross departmental working and the quality of the officers involved in heritage restoration and protection. 2. It supports updating the local Listed Buildings at Risk Register following CADW’s national survey. However, it requests clarification on whether the suggested two to three year cycle is sufficient and what mechanisms will exist to identify emerging risks between this cycle. 3. It requests further clarification on how often project funding is reviewed during multiyear heritage schemes, including the stages at which budgets, contingencies and cost pressures are reassessed, and how emerging risks are monitored between formal review points. 4. It requests that the Big Apple be treated as an urgent priority, given concerns on the stability of the site and the risk of delaying repairs. 5. It supports officers’ intention to develop clearer public facing guidance on reporting concerns about listed buildings. Building on this, it suggests an ‘information toolkit’, including simple explanations of relevant legislation, routes for intervention, correct points of contact and practical steps for ward councillors and members. 6. It recommends raising awareness of Data Map Wales through Council channels, as it is a valuable public tool for identifying listed buildings.
Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
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