Developers behind a luxury holiday complex on Anglesey have been urged to retain the site’s indigenous Welsh name after it was marketed as “Traeth Bychan Heights”.

Advertised as a new build gated holiday complex on the outskirts of Marianglas, the “luxury townhouses” are currently on the market for £285,000 and £500,000 each, situated near Traeth Bychan beach and described as “suited for a high end holiday investment or secure second home retreat.”

But with the site having long been known as Glynllifon –  even appearing on the Welsh historic place names register dating back to the mid 19th Century –  Anglesey Council has written to developers urging them to respect its long established past.

Understood to have been built in the mid 1800’s, Glynllifon later became a hotel – known for a period as Beauchelles –  becoming increasingly dilapidated over the past 20 years.

The gradual erosion of indigenous Welsh place and house names has been a high profile issue over recent months, with a successful petition calling for the Welsh Parliament to discuss putting a stop to the practice garnering over 17,500 signatures.

According to local councillors, concerns over the proposed name change has been a major talking point in the area.

“It’s a part of our heritage and been known as Glynllifon for the best part of 200 years,” said Cllr Ieuan Williams.

“You only have to travel down the road to Dulas to see examples such as Graigwen becoming White Rock House, but there are strong feelings locally that we need to make a stand now and pressure on the Welsh Government to legislate on this,” said Cllr Ieuan Williams.

“Unfortunately ministers haven’t listened thus far, but the authority has written to the developers although I’m not aware that any answer has been received yet.”

Cllr Vaughan Hughes, a fellow member for the Lligwy ward, added: “Despite Covid and everything, over the summer this particular issue has been raised time and time again with us councillors.

“There is real concern that large portions of our heritage is being eroded, and indeed will be lost for good unless we act now.”

Cllr Margaret Murley Roberts, added: “They can come here and develop but they also need to respect local history, this is just one example and there are countless others across Anglesey and Wales, but enough is enough.”

Confirming it has contacted the developers, a spokesman for Anglesey Council confirmed that no national legislation exists that would allow an authority to prevent a property name being changed from Welsh to English.

But despite this Anglesey, like some other authorities, “discourages” such  applications by asking them to reconsider the name change and to only return after a two week “cooling off” period.

He added: “New homeowners or those who wish to change the name of their home are encouraged to adopt a Welsh name.

“If a request is made to change the existing name, which has a historic Welsh origin, we will write to the owner to encourage them to reconsider and keep the existing name.

“Discussions in respect of the name of this development are currently ongoing with the developer.”

The developers, via their agent, have been contacted to comment.