Electric Mountain demolition gets the green light

Dale Spridgeon, local democracy reporter

A plan to demolish a ‘eyesore’ Gwynedd tourist attraction and provide an electric vehicle charging point location has been given the green light.

The centre has been closed since late 2018 and has been boarded up.

The former tourist attraction on the banks of Llyn Padarn, was previously used as a base for tours of Dinorwig Power Station. It also had a community space, staged regular exhibitions and other events and had a shop, information centre and café.

An application to carry out the “substantial demolition” of the former tourist attraction, also known as Oriel Eryri, was first granted by Cyngor Gwynedd, back in December 2022.

The applicant, Howard Jones of the First Hydro Company, had previously stated that the once popular visitor centre had been “under-used” and was “too large for the facilities accommodated inside.”

The building had become “too expensive” to run and had become “unsustainable” with the ventilation/heating system “reaching the end of its lifespan.”

An application to carry out the “substantial demolition” of the former tourist attraction, also known as Oriel Eryri, was first granted by Cyngor Gwynedd, back in December 2022.

The permission had also included a scheme to carry out associated works to the surrounding site, subject to various planning conditions being met.

The council now says in response to those conditions set, the applicant has now provided information relating to the “methodology of the demolition.”

Planning requirements had been met, and the development can now go ahead, as of a decision approved by planners on July 18.

Substantial demolition

The plans would concern the substantial demolition of the existing Electric Mountain Visitor Centre – but barring the existing electricity sub-station.

It would also see the re-instatement of the site as an area of grassland, would replace lighting and provide electric vehicle charging points at the existing car park as well as associated landscaping.

There is also a further planning application for “minor amendments” to the plans approved last year. These are minor adjustments that not expected to hold up the scheme.

A Cyngor Gwynedd spokesperson said: “An application to carry out the substantial demolition of the Electric Mountain Visitor Centre building at Llanberis, and to carry out associated work to the surrounding site, was approved in December 2022, subject to various conditions. In response to these conditions, the applicant has provided information relating to the methodology of the demolition.

“In accordance with national guidelines, an application was lodged to discharge the applicant of these conditions and the Council has confirmed that the requirements of the planning conditions have been met and the development may proceed.”