Italian Gardens Penarth - CMP

The Italian Gardens are a Grade II registered Edwardian style public garden forming a distinctive and much loved part of Penarth’s seafront.

Created in 1926, the Gardens retain their original terraced layout, rockwork, structural planting and formal character, offering a refined ornamental space within the wider promenade landscape. Their historical, aesthetic and communal value contributes significantly to the identity of the Penarth Conservation Area and the experience of the Esplanade.

Land Studio were commissioned by Vale of Glamorgan Council to provide a Conservation Management Plan to understand the Gardens’ historic significance, their contribution to Penarth’s coastal heritage, and the pressures and opportunities that shape their long term future. 

The Conservation Management Plan (CMP) identifies where opportunities exist to guide decisions about how best to manage and maintain the site effectively, ensuring that its significance and historic characteristics are retained while supporting its ongoing public value. The CMP brings together research into the site’s history, an assessment of its significance, a review of current condition and an analysis of policy context.

By setting out a long term vision and a clear management framework, the CMP provides the tools needed to safeguard the heritage value while allowing the gardens to thrive as a welcoming and resilient public space for future generations.