A major restoration project on Flat Holm has picked up two prizes at the 2026 Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards, recognising years of work to protect the island’s unique history.
The ‘Flat Holm: A Walk Through Time’ project won both the Building Project of the Year (under £5m) award and the Regeneration and Conservation Award.
Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund alongside investment from the island’s owners, Cardiff Council, the project was delivered by Cardiff Harbour Authority, Knox & Wells, WSP and CMS Group, with in kind support from the Flat Holm Society and RSPB Cymru.
The multi million pound scheme has restored the Grade II listed foghorn station, stabilised the historic Victorian cholera hospital and upgraded the island’s Victorian water systems. It has also improved habitats for the resident colony of lesser black backed gulls and introduced new island trails, digital content and public art designed to bring the island’s story to the mainland.
Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said winning two national awards was recognition of the partnership working and dedication behind protecting the island’s history and opening it up to new audiences.
Knox & Wells Managing Director Mike Baynham described Flat Holm as one of the most uniquely challenging projects the firm has undertaken, with the island’s remote location presenting logistical demands far beyond an ordinary construction site.
WSP Technical Director Richard Wilks said restoring the two iconic buildings had demanded strong teamwork and precise planning, allowing people to continue experiencing the island’s story.
Andrew White, Director for Wales at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said the awards were a testament to the vision and dedication behind the project, protecting important heritage and creating new opportunities for people to connect with its stories, both on the island and off it.
Where is Flat Holm?
Flat Holm, known in Welsh as Ynys Echni, lies around five miles off the Cardiff coast in the Bristol Channel. It is the most southerly point of Wales and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and local nature reserve, home to internationally important wildlife.
Five things you might not know about Flat Holm
* It was the site of the first successful wireless signal sent across open water, transmitted in 1897.
* The island housed a Victorian isolation hospital used to treat cholera patients arriving by sea.
* Its lighthouse, one of the island’s best known landmarks, was first built in 1737 to guide ships through the busy Bristol Channel.
* Flat Holm formed part of the UK’s coastal defences during both Victorian times and the Second World War.
* Today the island is home to an important seabird colony, including lesser black backed gulls, alongside rare plants and other wildlife.
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