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BOUYGUES UK PARTNERS WITH LOCAL SUPPLIERS TO HELP TRANSFORM FORMER DEBENHAMS STORE INTO CARMARTHEN ’ S HEALTH AND WELLBEING HUB
Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council have committed to working with a team of local suppliers and subcontractors to transform an old retail store into a stateof-the-art health , wellbeing , education and leisure hub .
The major contractor and Carmarthenshire County Council , in collaboration with Hywel Dda University Health Board and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David , is transforming the former Debenhams at St Catherine ’ s Walk into the Health and Wellbeing Hwb , which will provide a variety of facilities all under one roof .
Lead contractor Bouygues UK is committed to using local subcontractors as part of its commitment to provide employment , training and skills opportunities to local people and underrepresented groups .
It has already been working closely with sub-contractors from the area on its other prestigious project at Pentre Awel in Llanelli and continues to do so at the Health and Wellbeing Hwb – with a further commitment to upskill all those working in its supply chain on the importance of embedding sustainability into their work .
The groundwork was carried out by Cambrensis Civil Engineering , with Shufflebottom Ltd providing the secondary steelwork . Both companies are based in Cross Hands . Castle Scaffolding , from Ammanford , supplied the required scaffolding , and Davies Cranes , located in Carmarthen , handled the steelwork and mechanical & electrical crane lifts .
FP Hurley , also from Cross Hands , is managing the MEP ( Mechanical , Engineering , and Plumbing ) services . Security and cleaning services are being provided by the CSA Service Group , based at Llanelli Gate Business Park . The Gavin Griffiths Group from Swansea is overseeing commercial waste management , and Cwmgwili Recycling Facility in Carmarthen is also working with Bouygues UK .
Project Lead Dylan Jones said : “ It ’ s fantastic to see so many local firms working alongside us to help transform the former retail store into an exciting health , wellbeing and leisure hwb for Carmarthenshire . Working with local business is a key part of our commitment to using a local supply chain on projects as well as creating employment opportunities for the neighbouring community . It ’ s a truly collaborative approach that is proven to work .”
There will also be a high-spec family entertainment centre that will include a range of activities for families , including indoor adventure golf , toy town soft play , E-Go Karting and TAG Active . The entertainment centre will also house party rooms and offer food and beverages .
It is expected that once open to the public it will increase footfall for the town centre and drive further economic resilience for local traders and retailers . When the department store closed in May 2021 the knock-on effect on trade in the town centre was significant . It is hoped that the new all-encompassing Hwb – the first of its kind in Carmarthenshire – will encourage more people from the region into the town centre to take advantage of the public and leisure services that will be available under one roof .
Carmarthenshire County Council ’ s Cabinet Member for Regeneration , Leisure , Culture and Tourism , Cllr Hazel Evans commented : “ I am delighted to see that so many Carmarthenshire sub contractors are being utilised to work on this development . The Health and Wellbeing Hwb will serve as a place that local people can more easily access community health care and County Council Customer Services , as well as having a place to bring their children to the family entertainment zone or even to get healthier by using our gym . The development will significantly increase footfall in the town centre and encourage people to visit for the day , which will positively impact our other local businesses in and around the town , Thank you to Bouygues UK for their ongoing work within our community ”.
This project is funded in partnership with £ 7million from Welsh Government via the Health and Social Care Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund Programme , as part of the wider West Wales Regional Partnership Board Capital Programme and also funding of £ 18m from the UK Government .
Once complete , Carmarthenshire residents will be able to access community health services at the Health and Wellbeing Hwb that are being provided by Hywel Dda University Health Board . Alongside health and wellbeing services , the remodelled building will partner with Actif Sport and Leisure to facilitate a new 24-hour gym , which will include top of the range equipment , and flexible fitness suites for group and individual workouts . www . constructionviewonline . co . uk