Carmarthenshire council members have invited the undersecretary of state for Wales, David Davies, to visit the historic Pentre Awel development in Llanelli.
Mr. Davies went to the 83-acre site at Delta Lakes to learn more about the creative project, which is being led by Carmarthenshire County Council and has been funded with £40 million as part of the Swansea Bay City Deal.
Pentre Awel, the first project of its scale and magnitude in Wales, will bring together cutting-edge life science research, community healthcare, and cutting-edge recreational amenities in one ideal site.
Over the next 15 years, it will generate over 1,800 jobs, deliver world-class medical research and healthcare, support and encourage people to lead active and healthy lives, and add £467 million to the local economy.
Pentre Awel is one of nine significant projects funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal, a partnership between the Welsh and UK governments as well as the public and private sectors.
The UK and Welsh Government approved the business case earlier this year, and construction on Zone One of the project will begin this fall with an anticipated completion date of summer 2024.
It has a brand-new, cutting-edge recreation centre with a hydrotherapy pool, as well as areas for education, research, and business development, a clinical research and delivery centre, and a centre for well-being skills.
Pentre Awel will have beautifully landscaped outdoor common areas for recreation, walking, and cycling.
I was excited to see the beginning of this exciting project and congratulate some of the people who have worked so hard on it, Wales Office Minister David Davies said.
The UK Government is proud of our financial support, which will help realise this extremely ambitious plan along with our partners.
It has the potential to change lives by bringing about innovations in health and wellbeing and boosting the local economy.
This is the process of levelling up.
The Hywel Dda University Health Board, Cardiff University, Coleg Sir Gr, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and Swansea University are partners with Carmarthenshire County Council in the delivery of Pentre Awel.
Pentre Awel is one of the largest regeneration projects of its sort in Wales and will bring about a considerable programme of community benefits and economic development throughout the county, according to Cllr. Gareth John, the cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture, and tourism.
Not only will it significantly increase the region’s employment and training prospects, but it will also give residents access to cutting-edge leisure and healthcare facilities.
It is a project that will genuinely transform society and significantly improve people’s lives.
Following a thorough tendering process through the South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework, Bouygues UK has been selected to design and construct Zone One.
In order to guarantee significant employment and training opportunities for locals during the construction phase, the contract places a strong emphasis on social value.
It was wonderful to welcome Mr. Davies to the Pentre Awel site and go over our plans for the construction of the development, as well as how we will be collaborating closely with the local community and Carmarthenshire County Council to create as many employment and training opportunities for people in the area.
Our first meet the buyer event was a great success, and we have already had many positive conversations with local suppliers and subcontractors about working with us at Pentre Awel.
We are now anticipating starting the ground work and moving forward with the construction while collaborating with as many neighbourhood businesses as we can.
A hotel, various social and affordable housing options, assisted living facilities, and a nursing home are all included in later phases of the plan.
One of the initiatives being carried out as part of broader municipal plans for the revitalization of Llanelli is Pentre Awel.
In order to build a thriving and more resilient local community and to improve the appearance of the main town centre in order to increase commercial interest and foot traffic, millions of pounds are being invested throughout the area as part of the housing-led Transforming Tyisha project, which connects Pentre Awel and Llanelli town centre.