The Twentieth Century Society

Campaigning for outstanding buildings

New statutory role confirmed for C20 in Wales

Cadw (the Welsh heritage body) and the Welsh Government have confirmed C20 Society as a statutory consultee in the country.

Image: RSHP

The Twentieth Century Society is delighted to have been appointed as a statutory consultee in Wales – mirroring the role we’ve held in England since 2005.

From October 3rd 2022, all local authorities in Wales will be formally required to notify the Society of any planning applications for listed building consent and demolition. The news, confirmed by Cadw (the Welsh heritage body) and the Welsh Government, will help C20 to preserve more of our modern architectural and design heritage across the nation.

In recent years, the protection and plight of modern Welsh heritage has become a subject of increasing public debate. From campaigns to save the brutalist Argoed school and Swansea Civic Centre, to listing applications for Richard Rogers’ Inmos Microprocessor Factory in Newport and the Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre. The controversy surrounding the demolition of an elegant Art Deco house on Marine Drive in Rhos-on-Sea even prompted a statement in the Senned (Welsh Parliament).

C20 Cymru – an independent group of heritage experts and volunteers – was formed in 2020, to support the Society on our casework and campaigns in Wales, while running events and raising awareness. Their Chair, Susan Fielding, commented:

“We are delighted that the valuable role of the Twentieth Century Society in informing decision-making around the modern built and design heritage has been officially recognised in Wales. This is an important step in improving protection for C20 heritage across the nation.”

In the shadow of Snowdonia, Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre – by Bowen Dann Davies Partnership (1978), is one of many buildings put forward for listing by C20 Cymru in the past two years.

Image: Visit Snowdonia

Mae Cymdeithas yr Ugeinfed Ganrif yn falch iawn o fod wedi cael ei phenodi’n ymgynghorai statudol yng Nghymru – gan adlewyrchu’r rôl rydyn ni wedi’i chyflawni yn Lloegr ers 2005.

O Hydref y 3ydd 2022, rhaid i bob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru hysbysu’r Gymdeithas yn ffurfiol am unrhyw geisiadau cynllunio am ganiatâd adeilad rhestredig a dymchwel. Bydd y newyddion, a gadarnhawyd gan Cadw (Gwasanaeth Amgylchedd Hanesyddol Llywodraeth Cymru) a Llywodraeth Cymru, yn helpu C20 i gadw mwy o’n treftadaeth bensaernïol a dylunio modern ledled y wlad.

Yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae amddiffyniad a chyflwr y dreftadaeth Gymreig fodern wedi dod yn destun trafodaeth gyhoeddus gynyddol. O’r ymgyrchoedd i achub Ysgol Argoed a Chanolfan Ddinesig Abertawe, i restru ceisiadau ar gyfer Ffatrïoedd Microbrosesydd Inmos gan Richard Rogers yng Nghasnewydd a Chanolfan Awyr Agored Genedlaethol Plas Menai. Fe wnaeth y dadlau ynghylch dymchwel tŷ ‘Art Deco’ cain ar Marine Drive yn Llandrillo-yn-rhos hyd yn oed ysgogi datganiad yn Senedd Cymru.

Ffurfiwyd C20 Cymru – grŵp annibynnol o arbenigwyr treftadaeth a gwirfoddolwyr – yn 2020, i gefnogi’r Gymdeithas ar ein gwaith achos a’n hymgyrchoedd yng Nghymru, tra’n cynnal digwyddiadau a chodi ymwybyddiaeth. Dywedodd eu Cadeirydd, Susan Fielding:

“Rydyn ni’n wrth ein bodd bod rôl werthfawr Cymdeithas yr Ugeinfed Ganrif wrth lywio penderfyniadau am y dreftadaeth adeiledig a dylunio modern a gydnabyddir yn swyddogol yng Nghymru. Mae hwn yn gam pwysig i wella amddiffyniad treftadaeth yr 20fed ganrif ledled y wlad.”