Work to restore a historic shopfront on Stanley Street in Holyhead has been completed, organisers have confirmed, as part of the wider Holyhead Townscape Heritage programme. The project returns the frontage of Williams and Goodwin Estate Agents to an appearance close to how it would have looked around a century ago, while the business has also invested in improvements to the interior.
Heritage-led investment aimed at revitalising town centre
The restoration forms one of a number of interventions funded through a £3.25 million programme delivered by Isle of Anglesey County Council with support from the UK Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Townscape Heritage scheme is focused on repairing and enhancing historic buildings and shopfronts across Holyhead town centre to improve the public realm, attract visitors and encourage further private investment.
The Stanley Street premises is significant for the town in more than one way: it houses Williams and Goodwin’s Holyhead office and a branch of the Principality Building Society — currently the only remaining building society in the town. Williams and Goodwin, this year marking its 25th anniversary, employs five full-time staff in Holyhead and 25 across its other offices in Llangefni and Bangor.
“Seeing the shopfront restored to its original character has made a real difference, and we're delighted to have been part of this regeneration work. The investment in the town is helping to create a more attractive environment and has already started to encourage more people to visit and spend time here,”
The comments came from the business director, who said the restoration had given the town renewed confidence and a much-needed boost. He added that the scheme had encouraged businesses like his to continue investing in Holyhead and supporting the local community.
Local benefits and wider ambition
Local councillors and the council’s economic development team have promoted the Townscape Heritage programme as a way to address long-standing issues of vacancy and decline on key shopping streets, and to make the town centre more attractive both to residents and visitors. While this latest facelift is modest in scale, it is visible from the high street and intended to form part of a cumulative effect across several properties.
Smaller, heritage-focused projects like the Stanley Street restoration can have a ripple effect: improved shopfronts make streets more inviting, which helps footfall and can encourage neighbouring businesses to invest. For a town with strong maritime links and heavy traffic to and from the ferry port, an attractive central shopping area supports both local trade and tourism.
- Project: Williams and Goodwin shopfront restoration, Stanley Street, Holyhead
- Programme: Holyhead Townscape Heritage
- Funding: Part of a £3.25 million package backed by the UK Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme value | £3.25 million |
| Business anniversary | 25 years |
| Employees in Holyhead | 5 full-time |
| Total employees (group) | 25 |
What this means for residents
For people living in Holyhead, the visible renewal of shopfronts can contribute to stronger community pride and a sense that investment is reaching the town centre. Restored historic frontages help to preserve the architectural character of streets that many locals identify with, while the presence of ongoing public funding provides reassurance that there is a strategic plan for regeneration rather than isolated efforts.
That said, the long-term success of the scheme will depend on a combination of factors: continued public funding, sustained private sector investment, and measures to increase footfall and support independent traders. The Stanley Street restoration is a concrete example that the council’s programme can work at a street level; residents and businesses will now be watching to see whether the early boost translates into sustained economic benefits.
As the town marks small wins like the restored Williams and Goodwin frontage, Holyhead’s history and commercial future remain closely linked — the townscape work seeks to protect that heritage while nudging the high street towards renewed vitality.
