LONG-AWAITED plans for a multi-million-pound heritage centre at an historic north Ceredigion Abbey have moved a step closer, after the Trust behind the scheme bought the buildings it hopes will house the project.

The Strata Florida Trust has hoped to set up a Heritage and Visitor Centre at Strata Florida Abbey near Pontrhydfendigaid for well over a decade. This week, the Trust said it was “pleased” to have purchased the complex of farm buildings of Mynachlog Fawr (pictured) near the Abbey.

A Trust spokesman said: “The intention of the Trust is to seek funding for the conservation, restoration, development and sustainable use of the buildings which will become known as the Strata Florida Centre/Canolfan Ystrad Fflur, following initiatives by the Trust, the University of Wales Trinity St David and the Cambrian Heritage Regeneration Trust.

“The objective will be to create a multi-purpose centre supporting tourism, education and training, the rural economy, community coherence, heritage, the environment, the arts and the Welsh language and literature.

“To this end the Trust will enter into a series of strategic partnerships with local, regional and national institutions and enterprises to deliver a viable heritage asset.”

The Trust chairman, Prof David Austin, said: “This is an exciting breakthrough in moving forward our ideas for creating the Strata Florida Centre which have been gestating for over a decade."

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