Latest news with #TransformingTowns
Business News Wales
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Business Leaders Welcome New City Centre Office Scheme in Swansea
Two Swansea business leaders have given the thumbs-up to a new office development which has recently been officially opened in the city centre. Adam Gibbons and Carwyn Davies say the 71/72 Kingsway scheme will complement others to create more city centre footfall and spending while also meeting the need for more high-quality office accommodation in Swansea. Three tenants have already been named for the development – financial company Futures First, flexible workspace provider IWG, and travel and leisure company TUI. Tenant fitouts will now take place at the development ahead of staff moving in. Developed by Swansea Council, the 104,000 square foot scheme is being part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal and the Welsh Government through its Transforming Towns programme. Set to accommodate up to 600 jobs, the development is estimated to be worth £32.6 million a year to Swansea's economy. It is anticipated the scheme will be 100% let in the coming months as advanced discussions continue for all its remaining space. Adam Gibbons, Estates Manager at Centurion, owners of the Quadrant Shopping Centre, said: 'The shift to online shopping means it's now harder than ever for retailers to attract the kind of numbers they need in-store to thrive, so schemes like this that create more city centre footfall and spending are to be welcomed. 'As well as helping support our existing businesses, the extra footfall means there's more chance of attracting other shops and businesses to Swansea city centre in future to help boost the offer that's already here.' Carwyn Davies is the Managing Director of Hacer Developments – the company which is constructing the new 'living building' development close to the 71/72 Kingsway scheme. Made up of the former Woolworths unit and a new 12-storey tower, the scheme – once complete later this year – will include an educational facility, residential apartments, shops, offices, and a courtyard. It will also include living walls and roofs, along with rooftop solar panels, battery storage and gardens. Carwyn said: 'The combination of our scheme with 71/72 Kingsway and other developments either complete, ongoing or planned for Swansea shows the public and private sectors are working more closely together than ever before with a shared goal of making the city centre more vibrant. 'This will lead to thousands more people living and working in the city centre, helping to create employment, protect jobs, support business, attract new investment and position Swansea as a leading city for innovation. 'Having quality office space also gives businesses the facilities they need to further invest in Swansea and grow.' The 71/72 Kingsway scheme also includes an event hall and spaces for food and beverage businesses. A green rooftop terrace with views over Swansea Bay also features, along with solar panels on top of the building and heat recovery systems to minimise energy use.
Wales Online
08-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
The former Caerphilly indoor market is being turned into a new apartment and office scheme
The former Caerphilly indoor market is being turned into a new apartment and office scheme The development from Linc Cymru will see 71 apartments new commercial units and public space (Image: RPWALTON ) Work has started demolishing the site of the former indoor market in Caerphilly that will make way for a £21m mixed-use scheme that will include 72 apartments. The project on Pentrebane Street in the centre of the town is being led by Linc Cymru (part of housing association Pobl Group) with support from Caerphilly County Borough Council and the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns programme. As well as 72 apartments the scheme will also provide seven commercial units, designed to attract a variety of businesses, and new public space. Artist impression fo the mixed-use scheme from Linc Cymru in Caerphilly. Jayne Bryant, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government said of the development:"The demolition and development of this site is an important milestone in the ambitious plans for Caerphilly's town centre. "With the help of around £6m Transforming Towns funding from the Welsh Government, this scheme will deliver much-needed housing in the town centre along with commercial units, which will go towards increasing housing supply in Caerphilly, supporting local businesses, and breathing new life into the high street." Article continues below Jamie Pritchard, deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, added:"We're delighted to see the development of Caerphilly progress. The demolition of the old market at Pentrebane Street will create housing, open space, and a healthy mix of commercial and retail units. This will allow more people to live and work in our town. "Through extensive community engagement and consultation, we know that housing and new commercial opportunities is a major topic for Caerphilly residents and we're pleased to be able to address that through the work of the Caerphilly Town 2035 placemaking plan. "This project will go some way towards injecting some vibrancy into the area, so we look forward to getting on with the job." The former indoor market building in Caerphilly Grant Prosser, head of development (east) at Pobl Group said: "We welcome the start of demolition at Pentrebane Street as a key step towards transforming this part of Caerphilly town centre. It marks another important milestone in the ongoing regeneration plans for the town centre. "We have been working in partnership with Caerphilly Council and once the site is ready, we look forward to delivering a development that offers safe, high-quality homes alongside vibrant commercial units and shared green spaces. This project is about creating a place where people can live well, feel connected, and be part of a thriving community." Article continues below
South Wales Argus
04-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Pentrebane Street in Caerphilly: Demolition of market begins
The project, located on Pentrebane Street in Caerphilly, started on Monday, June 30, and marks a significant milestone in the Caerphilly Town 2035 placemaking plan. The £21 million scheme is being delivered by Linc Cymru in partnership with Caerphilly County Borough Council and backed by the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns programme. Jayne Bryant, cabinet secretary for housing and local government, said: "The demolition and development of this site is an important milestone in the ambitious plans for Caerphilly's town centre. "With the help of around £6 million Transforming Towns funding from the Welsh Government, this scheme will deliver much-needed housing in the town centre along with commercial units, which will go towards increasing housing supply in Caerphilly, supporting local businesses, and breathing new life into the high street." The development will include 72 apartments, seven commercial units, and new public spaces. Councillor Jamie Pritchard, deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: "We're delighted to see the development of Caerphilly progress. "The demolition of the old market at Pentrebane Street will create housing, open space, and a healthy mix of commercial and retail units." Grant Prosser, head of development (East) at Pobl Group, said: "We welcome the start of demolition at Pentrebane Street as a key step towards transforming this part of Caerphilly town centre. "It marks another important milestone in the ongoing regeneration plans for the town centre."
Wales Online
03-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Town's indoor market to be demolished for £21m apartments and shops development
Town's indoor market to be demolished for £21m apartments and shops development The area has become an anti-social behaviour hotspot The old indoor market (Image: John Myers ) The demolition of an historic and previously-thriving town centre market is under way. The former Caerphilly Indoor Market in Pentrebane Street closed for good in January 2023. It made way for new and modern container-style market, Ffos Caerffili, which opened in Cardiff Road in April 2024. The move received some backlash from former traders of the old market, which had been trading for almost a century. Speaking to WalesOnline in August 2023 two former market traders said they had been largely out of work since the old market shut. As Pentrebane Street fell into disrepair another business owner said she felt she had no choice but to move away because she no longer had enough footfall to keep her shop afloat. In May 2025 existing traders on the street claimed they were losing hundreds of pounds in profit each week as anti-social behaviour had taken over the derelict part of town. In an update on Thursday, July 3, it was confirmed that demolition work has started on the old market building to make way for "ambitious plans", which are part of the Caerphilly Town 2035 placemaking plan. Article continues below The £21m project, led by Linc Cymru (part of Pobl Group) with support from Caerphilly County Borough Council and the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns programme, will deliver 72 apartments, seven commercial units, and public spaces to "enhance the town centre's appeal". All of these shops are set to be demolished as part of the council's 'regeneration project' (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Jayne Bryant, Welsh Government cabinet secretary for housing and local government, said of the development: 'The demolition and development of this site is an important milestone in the ambitious plans for Caerphilly's town centre. 'With the help of around £6m Transforming Towns funding from the Welsh Government this scheme will deliver much-needed housing in the town centre along with commercial units, which will go towards increasing housing supply in Caerphilly, supporting local businesses, and breathing new life into the high street.' Cllr Jamie Pritchard, deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, added: 'We're delighted to see the development of Caerphilly progress. "The demolition of the old market at Pentrebane Street will create housing, open space, and a healthy mix of commercial and retail units. This will allow more people to live and work in our town. 'Through extensive community engagement and consultation we know that housing and new commercial opportunities is a major topic for Caerphilly residents and we're pleased to be able to address that through the work of the Caerphilly Town 2035 placemaking plan. "This project will go some way towards injecting some vibrancy into the area so we look forward to getting on with the job." Article continues below
South Wales Argus
29-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
New fund launched to help improve towns across Wales
The Tidy Towns Fund, announced by First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan at the Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno on Saturday, June 28, will provide £5 million to support improvements in cities, towns, and villages throughout the country. Ms Morgan said: "When our surroundings feel cared for, we feel cared for too and our new Tidy Towns Fund is a direct investment this year in the places we call home. "Tidy Towns is about more than just bricks and mortar. "It's about belonging and pride of place, because when a town centre feels alive, a street is tidy or a park is looked after, pride in our places means pride in ourselves." The funding will be distributed to all local authorities in Wales and could be used for a range of projects, including footpath repairs, replacing signage, refurbishing bus shelters, and maintaining street furniture. Other potential uses include litter removal, clearing fly-tipping, tidying overgrown areas, and painting community murals. The fund builds on the Welsh Labour Government's ongoing investment in community spaces. Since 2015, the £63 million Communities Facilities Programme has supported the creation, improvement, or preservation of more than 450 community spaces across Wales. It also complements the existing £100 million Transforming Towns programme, which focuses on bringing underused or derelict properties back into use as businesses, housing, leisure facilities, commercial space, or community hubs.
