A demolition plan has been submitted to knock down a derelict office building at a former covert Second World War aircraft manufacturing facility on Anglesey.
The structure, situated in the western portion of the old Laird's industrial complex at Llanfaes, close to Beaumaris, has been identified as presenting a danger to public safety.
Excelsior Properties lodged the proposal with Anglesey County Council, with Cadnant Planning acting as their representative.
According to the planning submission, the abandoned office block is in "extremely poor condition, which is worsening and is therefore a safety hazard".
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An ecological assessment commissioned for the site found the building was in a "poor state of repair and poses a risk to public safety".
The location served as the headquarters of Saunders Roe during the Second World War, where RAF personnel modified American Catalina flying boats for operations against enemy submarines.
During the 1960s, the facility merged with Cammell Laird and operated under the name Laird (Anglesey) Ltd, commonly referred to locally as Laird's.
The factory subsequently manufactured landing craft and assault vessels for British military operations in the Falklands conflict, alongside ship radar aerials, airport fuel tankers and air bridges.
Outside the former Saunders Roe factory in Anglesey, Wales
|GOOGLE STREET VIEW
Following the war years, production shifted to buses, torpedo boats and aluminium engineering products.
At its peak, the site provided employment for nearly 2,000 workers who travelled in by bus.
Among its former staff was Tecwyn Roberts, who later became instrumental in America's manned space flight programme.
The ecological survey noted that health and safety concerns prevented inspectors from entering the building, with examination conducted externally through broken window panes.
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The now derelict site was headquarters of Saunders Roe during the Second World War where RAF personnel modified American Catalina flying boats
|GETTY
Surveyors found the structure was built using prefabricated materials combined with brick, topped with flat roofs covered in bitumen.
Several smashed windows on the front of the building could potentially allow bats and birds to fly through, though no obvious roosting features were visible externally.
Dense ivy covering parts of the structure offered possible nesting habitat for songbirds, although inspectors discovered no evidence of bats or nesting birds during their assessment.
The report recommended precautionary measures before and throughout the demolition process, including the removal of ivy and nearby scrub under ecological supervision.
An ecologist must maintain a watching brief during all demolition work, with operations halting immediately should any active nests be discovered.
The demolition work would involve breaking down the structure using an excavator or digger operated by a qualified contractor who has already been appointed for the project.
The building's foundations would remain in place following the demolition.
Members of the public wishing to comment on the proposals can do so via Anglesey County Council's online planning portal.
The consultation period runs until March 26, giving residents and interested parties just over two weeks to submit their views on the application.
Despite the site's significant historical importance, including its connections to wartime aviation and the space race, the building has stood largely abandoned for decades alongside other structures at the former industrial complex.
The demolition plan relates to a broader concept to regenerate the the former World War II aircraft factory.
There are hopes for new homes, a marina, leisure, commercial and employment facilities to be built.
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