Breathtaking’ transformation of Llanelli

LLANELLI’S skyline is being spiked by towering new steel structures.

After years of planning and clearing of blight, the benefits of a £60-million investment are unfolding as a new town is born.

The dawning of Llanelli’s bright new future has not been without pain.

Llanelli has suffered years of migration of some traders to out of town shopping centres.

But now there is a new degree of optimism with the tide turning as Carmarthenshire County Council’s innovative policies and dynamic regeneration team has attracted Welsh Assembly and European Regional Development Funding. Now the town centre is fighting back.

Llanelli’s major regeneration programme will not only transform the town’s look but its fortunes too.

Five major projects are being developed which will showcase a wide range of arts, entertainment, leisure and business opportunities.

They include a new Theatre, arts and social enterprise complex called Y Ffwrness; the refurbishments of Llanelly House and Llanelli Library, a new leisure, office and retail development called East Gate, with additional extensive new town centre improvements in Vaughan Street and Stepney Street, including new canopies, lighting and shop frontages.

Britannia Construction is delivering the £25-million East Gate and opened the first stage of a £1-million bus station a month ahead of schedule this August.

Already they have cleared services and prepared the ground works to allow the rapid erection in the last week of steelworks that are the skeleton frameworks of a new Odeon 6-screen multiplex cinema, hotel, office, shops, pubs and restaurants.

Carmarthenshire Council is working with Henry Davidson Developments to deliver East Gate by the Autumn of 2012.

In the last week the company has started to actively market business opportunities nationwide in the Llanelli development with a stunning flythrough visual of East Gate (visit www.eastgatellanelli.co.uk) The adjacent Y Ffwrnes theatre complex, completely separate from the cinema, is a £14.6-million project. It aims to create 35 new jobs and provide a £1-million boost to the local economy – boasting a state of the art 530-seat theatre – making West Wales the heart beat of performing arts.

County Leader Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “These are tremendously exciting times for Llanelli. We are creating a Leisure Quarter that will give a much needed boost and encourage more people to set up new businesses.

“After years of patience and planning the wonderful transformation of Llanelli is taking place with breathtaking pace.”