Architects plan on a public display for renovating a Pembrokeshire chapel for community owned flats, heritage centre and cafe.
On Saturday, September 2, architect plans and artist’s impression for the CarTrefUn project in Hermon near Crymych will be on display from 10am to 1pm.
The gallery of designs will be displayed in the eco building across the road from the chapel which is also a community cooperative development known as Y Stiwdio.
The coffee morning on September 2 is a drop-in event, so there is no need to book. At the event, people can learn about the community housing project and then sign up to be a member and be part of the renovation project.
Despite Brynmyrnach chapel closing in 2022 due to the deterioration of the roof, the community of Hermon have now created a Heritage and Housing Trust to take on the building with a view to offering affordable housing on the first floor with a Heritage Centre and pop-up cafe on the ground floor.
Chair of the Heritage and Housing cooperative Cris Tomos said:
“The coffee morning on the 2nd of September will be a chance to see the plans and layout for the new development. It will be an opportunity to involve new interested individuals and also explain about the cooperative trust model for renovating the old chapel building in the village"
“It's great to see another cooperative in the village and as a small rural community we have embraced the creation of new cooperatives as a solution to retain services and amenities in the area.
It started with a gathering in 2003 to look at a Community Land Trust in the village and by 2006 the old primary school building was forced to close in Hermon where we then set up as a cooperative society to issue a community share offer in 2007.
The building was bought in 2008 and turned into a community centre called Canolfan Hermon. This allowed many new groups to form and use the community centre to hold Action Plan meetings coordinated by PLANED rural development charity.
“The locals went on to establish the Cwm Arian Renewable Energy cooperative, with many environmental pilot projects and putting up a 700kw wind turbine. Then in 2021, Y Stiwdio cooperative project began to be built as an eco timber frame building with hempcrete walls.
“This year we are now purchasing the old chapel to become a Heritage and Housing Trust; the newest cooperative registered in 2023. We are truly a cooperatively minded group of people in the village of Hermon.”
Additional details about the community project can be viewed on www.cartrefun.cymru