Powys: Llandrindod Automobile Palace £3.1m revamp complete

The Art Nouveau and Art Deco-style Automobile Palace in the centre of Llandrindod Wells is now ready to let nine business units, and will continue to be the home of the National Cycle Museum, and Llandrindod Wells Jobcentre.

Powys County Council secured £1.585 million in funding from the Welsh Government and £550,000 from the UK Government to upgrade the building through its Property Design Services and Welshpool-based contractor SWG Group.

There's planning permission for shops, financial services, food and drinks and business. (Image: Powys County Council.)

Work on the building, which stands at the junction of Temple Street, Spa Road East and Princes Avenue, included repairing a stone plinth, 23 stone lion statues on the roof, and the unusual white moulded and glazed tiles used for cladding, known as faience.

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Builders repaired window, door frames and railings, added new roof finishes and insulation.

New interior fire doors and glazed partitions have been installed as well as upgraded fire alarms, heating, ventilation and lighting.

Nine business units are available. (Image: Powys County Council.)

Toilet facilities on the ground and first floors have been improved and extended, and the all the office areas have been refitted.

Cllr David Selby, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said: "It’s brilliant to see this iconic building in the centre of Llandrindod Wells being brought back into use in a way that we hope will encourage entrepreneurship and innovation."

More than £3 million was spent to restore the Grade II-listed building. (Image: Powys County Council.)

Cllr Jake Berriman, Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys added: “It’s an important building for the town and county and is of great historical significance. It is listed because of its pioneering use of reinforced concrete and is believed to be the oldest purpose-built car showroom in Wales.”

The Automobile Palace was built between 1906 and 1911 by transport pioneer Tom Norton, who then extended in 1919.

It was initially known as ‘The Palace of Sport’ but the business name was changed from Tom Norton Ltd to The Automobile Palace Ltd in 1925.

Julian Kirkham, director at SWG Group, said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to help preserve and improve one of the most recognisable buildings in Powys and look forward to working on more projects like this with the county council in the future.”

The nine that are available range in size from 269 to 3,041 ft2 and have permission to be used for these planning classes: A1 Shops, A2 Financial & Professional Services, A3 Food & Drinks and B1 Business.