Exciting update on transformational Pentre Awel scheme

WORK on the exciting multi-million pound Pentre Awel project at Delta Lakes in Llanelli is underway.

Site clearance and ground investigation works started this week as contractor Bouygues UK began delivering Zone One of the exciting development – the first of its kind in Wales which will bring together life science innovation, community healthcare and modern leisure facilities on an 83-acre coastal site.

Carmarthenshire County Council is leading the delivery of the scheme in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, and local universities and colleges, as part of the £1.3billion Swansea Bay City Deal.

Pentre Awel will be developed in four zoned phases – Zone One will benefit from over £70million of public sector investment to provide transformational social and economic benefits to people in the region.

Estimated for completion in 2024, it will include a state-of-the-art £27million leisure centre; a £1.3million hydrotherapy pool; education, research and business development space; a clinical research and delivery centre with community level clinical trials; and a well-being skills centre delivering health and care training.

Councillors have this week received an update on progress of the first phase of the two-stage design and build contract awarded to Bouygues UK, including detailed costings to ensure affordability as well as site clearance and exploratory works to refine the design.

Discussions are also underway with tenants to design and develop internal configurations.

The council and Bouygues UK are now engaging with local suppliers and trades to highlight a huge range of opportunities to get involved with the construction of Zone One, and will be hosting the first of several ‘meet the buyer’ events at Parc y Scarlets on March 30.

Work is also underway to engage with the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership, schools, colleges, universities, and local employment agencies to ensure employment and training opportunities for local people are maximised during the construction phase.

Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr Emlyn Dole, said: “This contract is one of the highest valued tender exercises the council has ever undertaken, putting key focus on social value to ensure that local people and businesses will reap the benefits.

“It is great to see good progress being made on the pre-commencement stage with the start of Zone One preliminary works on site, fresh designs developed with the input of future tenants, and the first of many events to engage with local suppliers and businesses.

“We are grateful to Bouygues UK for coming back to us so swiftly with detailed costings, bearing in mind the continued volatility in the construction industry as a result of world events.

“Pentre Awel is a transformational project, and we’re pleased that local people and benefits are already starting to see the benefits.”

The exciting Pentre Awel project includes integrated care and physical rehabilitation facilities, a well-being skills centre which will focus on health and care training, a clinical delivery centre to deliver multi-disciplinary care, and a new state-of-the-art leisure centre, along with landscaped outdoor public spaces for walking and cycling.

A hotel, a range of social and affordable housing, assisted living accommodation and a nursing home are being planned for later phases of the scheme.

Promising to create around 1,800 jobs over 15 years and boosting the local economy by some £467million, it is being delivered by Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Universities and Colleges. Memorandums of Understanding have been signed with Cardiff University, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea University, and Coleg Sir Gar, for the delivery of courses on site. Cardiff University will in addition be the strategic partner for the delivery of innovation and business on site.