Levelling Up Fund: Loggerheads

Funded by UK Government logo

Project background

Project background

This project seeks to enhance and improve Loggerheads Country Park, a gateway to the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and one of the busiest visitor sites managed by Denbighshire County Council, through an upgrade of the main visitor buildings, creation of an external canopy with additional seating and enhanced visitor access, alongside much needed flood mitigation works.

The primary goal of these improvements will be to assist with the management of pressures associated with increased visitor numbers and respond to rising visitor expectations.

Key points

Key points

  • This is a new project to deliver enhancements to a popular tourist attraction.
  • The project compliments the improvements also scheduled for Moel Famau.
  • The design contract has been awarded to local consultants TACP Architects and Waterco.
  • The construction contract is set to be tendered shortly.
  • Work is set to commence January 2025.
  • The project is due to be completed by September 2025.
Current position

Current position

  • Flood elevation works is currently underway at the Loggerheads site. Local contractors, MWT Ltd, were appointed to undertake the scheme.
  • Loggerheads visitor centre and café improvements application has been submitted on the DCC planning portal and is awaiting decision.
  • Applications will be publicly available for viewing and comment as part of the planning process between August and October 2024.
Gallery

Gallery

Loggerheads


Loggerheads


Loggerheads


Loggerheads

Consultation

Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How are the improvements in Loggerheads being funded?

The improvements for Loggerheads Country Park have been funded through Levelling Up, a UK Government fund.

The Levelling Up funding allocated to Denbighshire amounts to £10.95m and will benefit Ruthin and its rural communities, including Loggerheads and Moel Famau.

Loggerheads has been awarded £1.4million of this fund.

Further information on Levelling Up in Denbighshire can be found on our website.

Why isn't the money being spent on other things, like potholes?

The funds have been allocated by the UK Government and are designated specifically for enhancing the infrastructure and facilities at Loggerheads Country Park.

Is the project linked to obtaining National Park status for the area?

The project at Loggerheads is not associated with the proposed National Park. The National Park is a distinct initiative led by the Welsh Government, with a decision still pending.

Why are we undertaking these improvements?

The main aim of these improvements is to help manage the challenges linked to a growing number of visitors (currently exceeding 200,000 visitors per year) and meet the increasing expectations.

Will the park remain open when construction works are being undertaken?

Loggerheads Country Park will continue to operate during the construction phase. However, there may be some disruptions and access limitations to the visitor centre, café, and toilets. Any updates on disruptions will be shared through the DCC website, social media platforms, and local press.

Efforts will be made to minimise inconvenience throughout the construction phase.

How will you keep people informed?

Details regarding the project's progress can be accessed on the DCC website via the dedicated Levelling Up Fund pages, as well as through the following channels:

  • Information in the local press.
  • Updates on Denbighshire’s and AONB social media channels – please follow our Facebook (external website) and Twitter (external website) pages for regular updates.
  • Articles in the online County Voice publication – to be added to the mailing list please register on our website.
  • Posters in key community locations (Visitor Centre, Loggerheads and Shepherd Hut, Moel Famau) to promote local consultation as we acknowledge not everyone is online.
  • Promotion through local partners' own communication networks.
  • Community Council meetings and newsletters.

When will the improvement work begin at Loggerheads?

Flood alleviation works at the country park is set to commence in summer 2024, while building improvement works are scheduled to start in winter 2024/2025.

Will the café, visitor centre and toilets remain open whilst building works are taking place?

The café, visitor centre and toilets at Loggerheads Country Park may need to temporarily close during the building improvement works. Any closure updates will be communicated through the DCC website, social media, and local press. Alternative arrangements such as temporary toilets, pop-up visitor centre, etc will be made available to visitors.

Are there plans to make the site more sustainable and energy efficient?

As part of the enhancements, we are collaborating with the Denbighshire Energy Team to enhance the site's sustainability and energy efficiency. Exploring options such as solar and hydro is currently underway. Additionally, the project aims to address flood protection and enhance building resilience to climate change.

How will the improvements in Loggerheads impact the environment?

As part of the scheme, a preliminary ecological appraisal and tree survey have been conducted for the Loggerheads site. All activities will prioritise environmental considerations, aiming to minimize any environmental disruptions, working alongside specialists. As part of the flood works, there may be a need to remove some trees for bank improvement purposes.

Contact information

Contact information

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact the AONB team at Loggerheads Country Park:


Contact Us

Please contact levellingup@denbighshire.gov.uk highlighting the project of specific interest and we will pass this on to the relevant project manager.