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A stretch of coastline which is part of the ‘Welsh Riviera’ in North Wales has won a national award following a major transformation. This summer visitors flocked to Rhos on Sea, basking on the new beach, rated among the best in the country, and admiring the resort’s striped deckchairs and colourful shelters. But for some locals, some irritations remain, from parking costs to ice cream inflation and the continued absence of replacement kiosks. In fact the upgrades to the Conwy resort were not without controversy. In 2021 Conwy Council’s £20m transformation plans in 2021 were met with street protests. They were part of a major sea defence upgrade, North Wales Live reports. A lot of the anger centred on new road layouts and one-way traffic.For many, the hassle was worth it – and the resort has been bustling ever since. For one local, it showed that if you “invest in the seafront, the people will come”. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE This was the second phase of a wider project to revitalise the Bay of Colwyn waterfront. Running from the southern end of the Cayley Embankment to Rhos-on-Sea Harbour, it saw the beach replenished with 1m tonnes of sand dredged from Liverpool Bay. This had the effect of raising the beach 16ft, making it a primary sea defence against winter storms and rising sea levels. But the improvements went much further with the promenade upgraded to encourage engagement. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Facilities included new shelters, public art and interactive play areas. Seating ranged from picnic benches and loungers to "happy to chat" and solar-powered benches. Activity zones have also been introduced, from exercise machines to musical instruments. Visitors have been bowled over. Writing online, one said this summer: "We stumbled across this beautiful place only last year on the bus on the way to Llandudno and we keep going back now! "We have a caravan in Towyn and were there yesterday and it was like being abroad." This month the scheme got a massive pat on the back from New Civil Engineer and the Institution of Civil Engineers. In its 2025 British Construction and Infrastructure (BCI) Awards, the Rhos on Sea revamp won the UK Placemaking Project Award. Judges were impressed by its vision, innovation, and community-led design. They said: "This submission places a strong emphasis on creating a lasting sense of place and securing the community's future in a changing climate. "It is a thoughtful and forward-looking example of placemaking, with a strong focus on safeguarding the wellbeing of future generations." Older residents say the beach area now "looks like it did years ago". But not everyone is happy. Some visitors have complained about new speed bumps, the absence of kiosks and the loss of outdoor showers. Parking provision on the seafront has increased but spaces are no longer free, except before 10am and after 4pm. With a minimum £5.50 charge, locals continue to lobby for short-stay pricing so they can walk the dogs or pop to a cafe. But, by and large, the remodelled seafront is a source of pride. Cllr Mike Priestley, Conwy's Cabinet Member for environment, roads and facilities, said: "We're absolutely delighted to receive this award, especially given the calibre of projects we were up against. "It's a fantastic recognition of the hard work and collaboration that went into delivering this scheme." Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Some 85% of the scheme's construction costs were funded by the Welsh Government's Coast Risk Management Programme. The Rhos on Sea scheme was one of only two winners in the BCI awards. The other was Dŵr Cymru's (Welsh Water) new auxiliary spillway at Llyn Celyn near Bala, Gwynedd. Having been placed as a runner-up in the Placemaking category, behind Rhos on Sea, the Llyn Celyn scheme won the UK Water Project category. The reservoir already has a spillway but there was a marginal risk this wouldn't be able to cope in extreme weather events - which are expected to increase in the coming years. The recently completed three-year project saw the new spillway created from a culvert under the crest of the reservoir's dam. Controlled by hydraulic gates from the existing spillway, excess flows are directed to Afon Tryweryn below. Dŵr Cymru said: "With the reservoir located in Eryri National Park, every effort was made to minimise the visual impact of the new spillway to help it better blend with its natural surroundings. "In extremely rare events of exceptionally high-water levels when the reservoir levels far exceed the point where the current spillway comes into use - 0.01% in any one year - the gates will open on the new spillway." For more of today's top stories, click here.
