Plans to rebuild and relocate an 18th century lychgate that was struck by a lorry have been given the green light by Powys County Council.

The Grade II lychgate in Llangurig, which pre-dates the restoration of St Curig’s Church, was dismantled almost three years ago after it was damaged by the impact of a heavy goods vehicle.

Powys County Council planning officers have approved an application submitted by the Church in Wales to rebuild the 277 year old lychgate in line with an existing church boundary wall to avoid further damage from vehicles that park on the pavement outside the churchyard.

A built heritage officer at the council noted that following the vehicle strike, the loss of the lychgate has been of concern.

The proposal is to rebuild the lychgate exactly as it was except that it will be moved back so that the front face of the structure will line through with the outside face of the church yard wall.

This means that there will be no projection into the layby and the lychgate will be located completely on church land.

The original materials will be reused with the exception of the slates and the rest of the materials will be reused and repaired.

Powys County Council has placed a condition to ensure that a suitably qualified archaeological contractor is present when any ground work is undertaken at the development area.

“The community significance of the lychgate should not be overlooked,” read a heritage impact report.

“For the people of Llangurig the lychgate is inseparable from a church which has had community significance over many generations.”

Photographs taken after the crash showed rubble on the floor and the west facing wall and gate posts badly damaged.

A fortnight later, the original masonry, timber framing and roof tiles and slates were taken down and stored “as found” for rebuild.

Llangurig Parish Church was reputedly founded by St Curig who died in 550 and is now dedicated to him. It has been claimed that in the twelfth century it became part of the abbey lands of Strata Florida.