South Wales is a hotbed of new construction work, much of it focused in the region’s major towns and cities. The Swansea Bay City Deal is driving the development of a major wellness village in Llanelli, while regeneration in Newport is seeing a dramatic overhaul of the Ringland area. Throw in a new railway station for Cardiff, a substantial new office development and a facelift for Newport Market, and it all adds up to a busy start to 2022.

Cardiff: Cardiff Parkway railway station

The new Cardiff Parkway railway station is set to become a reality after Cardiff Council granted planning permission on April 4. The development of farmland in St Mellons will create not only a new station but also a neighbouring business park, Cardiff Hendre Lakes, with 90,000m² of commercial floorspace.

The development is to be built privately by Cardiff Parkway Developments. Led by father and son team Nigel and Andrew Roberts, it has backing from the Welsh Government and financial services company Investec.

Commenting on the decision to grant planning permission, Nigel Roberts, Chairman of Cardiff Parkway Developments, said: “We are delighted to have gained a positive outcome at planning committee today for this transformational project. Our proposals are for a sustainable, well-connected business district with public transport and active travel at its heart. We have worked hard with key stakeholders for a number of years and this decision brings forward a key recommendation of the South East Wales Transport Commission and the Union Connectivity Review.

“The project will bring investment to an area of Cardiff that needs it, create new employment opportunities, and better connect people in this region of South East Wales. We are aiming to deliver convenient and quick services, with a high-quality customer experience, particularly for public transport and active travel, to encourage sustainable transport to become the obvious choice. We are looking forward to progressing the scheme.”

Cardiff: the Casablanca Building

The site of the former Casablanca nightclub - once one of Cardiff’s hottest nightspots - has been redeveloped, creating 20 one and two-bedroom apartments and a three-bedroom penthouse, together with 1,650sq ft of commercial space.

Formerly the Bethel Chapel - which dated back to the 1840s - the original Casablanca was an important part of Cardiff’s nightlife, hosting performances from artists such as Aretha Franklin and Spandau Ballet.

The creation of the new Casablanca Building was backed the Development Bank of Wales, which supported developers Mount Stuart Square Developments with a £3.36m property development loan.

This was supported by the Cardiff branch of local relationship bank Handelsbanken , who agreed to refinance the Development Bank’s loan once the property was completed so that Mount Stuart Square Developments could retain the property for rental.

The new development is now fully let via Cardiff-based estate agents MGY.

Dan Ronson, developer at Mount Stuart Square Developments, said: “We’re very lucky to have worked on the historic Casablanca nightclub, and hope that the new building will continue to play an important part in the life and history of Cardiff Bay.

“We’re very grateful to the Development Bank of Wales for their support and are proud of what we have been able to accomplish together.”

Martin Leech, Corporate Manager at Handelsbanken said: “Alongside the Development Bank of Wales, we are delighted to support Dan Ronson with this venture. It was a pleasure to work with DBW”.

Swansea: Beacon Hill

Llanelli based construction firm Morganstone has been appointed as the contractor to build 160 new homes for Pobl Group at the former University of Wales Trinity Saint David Townhill campus in Swansea.

The new Beacon Hill development will transform the former campus site, delivering a high-quality mixed tenure development of 160 new homes that have been designed to make the most of the views and other qualities of the site.

The impressive Edwardian college building will be preserved, overseeing a sensitive conversion and extension of this landmark building into one and two-bedroom apartments that will have spectacular views over Swansea Bay. The remainder of the development will see the inclusion of a new landscaped urban square, generous amenity space and a good mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes as well as a small convenience store.

The development will conserve and maintain a large proportion of mature parkland and open space to benefit both the new residents and existing adjacent community.

“We’re delighted to be working with Morganstone on this exciting new development, and supporting the local supply chain,” said Kate Sinclair, Senior Project Manager - Pobl Group “This development is an example of Pobl’s commitment to building affordable homes and creating great places where people want to live, and we look forward to work starting on the site.”

Ian Morgan, Managing Director - Morganstone, added: “Everyone at Morganstone is absolutely delighted to be involved in such a prestigious new development and to be continuing our working partnership with Pobl Group in delivering first class developments. Being born and bred in Swansea, this is a particularly exciting project for me. As a company, we’re always passionate about supporting and developing the city and this is going to be a special project and an equally special place to live.”

Newport: new look market reopens

A transformed Newport Market has opened its doors after the completion of a multi-million regeneration project.

It will have a host of new traders plus some familiar faces, a food court with a diverse offering business and event spaces.

The project is believed to be the largest indoor market redevelopment in Europe.

Market Arcade, the traditional shopping link between High Street and the market, has also been restored in a project led by the council and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

For more information visit https://newport-market.co.uk/

Newport: Ringland redevelopment

The first visuals have been released for the £24m development that could replace homes and a shopping centre at Ringland in Newport. The proposed development includes 170 homes and a new shopping centre to replace the dated Ringland Circle shopping centre. The initial phase of the development - the creation of 55 homes across the road from Ringland Circle - was completed last summer. It is hoped that the planned redevelopment will inject new life into a part of Newport that has one of the highest levels of deprivation in the city.

Llanelli: The Pentre Awel scheme at Delta Lakes

Plans for Llanelli’s new £200m wellness and life science village - one of the nine projects in the Swansea Bay City Deal - have been published.

Set on the outskirts of Llanelli, the Pentre Awel scheme includes research and business space, health and rehabilitation facilities, a leisure centre, a hydrotherapy pool, medical research facilities, social, open market and affordable housing, assisted living accommodation, a nursing home and a hotel. These will be delivered in phases, starting with the leisure centre and swimming pool and finishing with the hotel and housing.

The development has outline planning approval and now a detailed planning application has been submitted.

A design and access statement from the council said: “The mixture of uses will create a vibrant and diverse place which draws in a wide variety of people and integrates the young, old and the most vulnerable members of the local community.”

Contractor Bouyges UK has been appointed by Carmarthenshire Council to deliver the first phase of Pentre Awel.

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