Drone captures demolition at old Anglesey Aluminium site

Chris Willz, from Chris Willz of Photography and Film, shared these impressive photographs after a drone flight over the site, now renamed Prosperity Parc. He commented the demolition team is "hard at work."

The site, owned by Swedish shipping line company Stena Line, one of the largest ferry operators, is designated as one of the specific customs and tax sites within the Freeport and represents a prime opportunity for new businesses looking to invest in the island. 

Plans are currently being drawn up to demolish the chimney after a structural report deemed it "beyond economic repair."

The chimney stack stands at 122-metres tall and has been in place for more than 50 years.

Plans are being drawn up to demolish the chimney (Image: Image: Chris Willz Photography and Film)
Giving a progress update, a spokesperson, on behalf of Stena Line, said: "Following environmental studies and surveys, an application was made to Isle of Anglesey County Council to demolish some of the buildings on Prosperity Parc - including the chimney. The consents were granted following the approval of the application. Following this, contractors were appointed to remove the four pot lone buildings and the A frame building.

"Before the Christmas break, the area within the site was fenced off, and a small site team relocated offices away from the area to allow plant and machinery to be mobilised onsite.

Demolition workers have been hard at work (Image: Chris Willz Photography and Film (permission granted))
"Last week, workers started to demolish the four pot line buildings, the first two have already been pulled down. The remaining steel from the buildings is all being sent for recycling off site.

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"A detailed plan is being draw up to demolish the chimney as the structural report deemed it beyond economic repair, and a hindrance to future economic redeveloped due to its 'shadow', should it later need to come down."

The chimney will be the last structure to come down.

The spokesperson added:  "Anglesey Land Holdings - a wholly owned Stena Line company - are developing a plan for how to commemorate its removal and celebrate the start of a brighter future with a public event.

"More details will be shared shortly once the statutory consultations have been completed with highways and railways authorities."

The former Anglesey Aluminium, which closed down over a decade ago, has stood derelict since 2013.

Stena Line says that the plans to demolish existing infrastructure and prepare the site for future business investment is testament to the levels of ambition for progressing with Anglesey Freeport – which is forecast to deliver up to 13,000 jobs across North Wales, and add £1bn to UK GDP by 2030.