Carmarthenshire County Council has chosen Bouygues UK to design and build zone one of its Pentre Awel development
Pentre Awel is the first development of its scope and size in Wales, bringing together life science innovation, community healthcare and modern leisure facilities at the 83-acre Delta Lakes site.
Having received UK and Welsh Government approval of its £40m Swansea Bay City Deal business case earlier this year, the council has led an extensive tendering process via the South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework.
Zone One will benefit from around £70m of public sector investment and will feature education, business, research, leisure and health facilities to provide transformational social and economic benefits to people in the region.
The contract puts a key focus on social value to ensure that local people and businesses reap the benefits of the scheme.
Bouygues UK will now work with the council, the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership (RLSP), schools, colleges and universities, as well as local employment agencies such as Workways and Communities for Work to deliver a comprehensive programme of community benefits.
It will mean employment and training opportunities for local people, including jobs for people just starting their careers, apprenticeships, work placements and wider employability support.
There will also be a targeted focus on supporting those who are long-term unemployed or economically inactive.
‘Creating a lasting legacy’
Councillor Emlyn Dole, leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “Pentre Awel will create a lasting legacy, and this starts with the construction phase. Bouygues UK has a proven track record in constructing projects of Pentre Awel’s scale and complexity, and we look forward to working with them to deliver this landmark project.
“I am confident they share our vision for, and commitment to, social value and as we continue to recover from Covid it is critical that the employment and training opportunities generated during the construction phase of Pentre Awel benefit the people of Llanelli and Carmarthenshire.
“We’re excited to be pushing ahead with the delivery of Zone One of this landmark scheme, and to be making good progress on other zones that make up Pentre Awel.”
Simon Barnes, pre-construction director for Bouygues UK, added: “We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder on the Pentre Awel project, a first of its kind project in Wales. Our experience in large scale projects like this will ensure the successful delivery of the scheme.
“We are pleased that Carmarthenshire County Council is aligned with our ambitious vision to bring a positive social impact alongside this project.
“Together with our supply chain we look forward to bringing lasting value to the local community. By using local employment and social enterprise, we will be supporting Well-being and the Future Generations Act. Through engagement with regional learning and skills partnerships, we will also help deliver learning and career opportunities.
“This project will also benefit from using a local supply chain with particular focus on small and medium size enterprises.”
As part of the Pentre Awel project, 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.
Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK have now entered into an initial pre-construction period – a stage of works undertaken prior to the commencement of construction on site next year.
During this period, further design will be undertaken together with preparation and submission of detailed planning information and preparatory works on site.
Property and construction consultants Gleeds will manage the build contract, supported by design and planning experts Arup.
