Government approvals for Pentre Awel project

A multimillion-pound Llanelli project featuring business, research, education, health and leisure facilities has been approved by the UK Government and Welsh Government.The approval means the Pentre Awel project can now start drawing down funds from the Swansea Bay City Deal investment portfolio to support with its delivery.A main contractor will soon be sought to start work on zone one of the project this autumn on an 83-acre site in South Llanelli.Features of Pentre Awel, which is being funded by a £40m City Deal contribution in coming years, include: incubation and acceleration spaces that will help research businesses develop innovative healthcare technology and a well-being skills centre focusing on health and care training, with courses ranging from entry level through to postgraduate.The scheme will also incorporate a clinical research centre and a clinical care centre to provide multi-disciplinary care closer to home for a range of community-focused services.Pentre Awel is being led by Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Universities and Colleges.The City Deal funded elements of Pentre Awel are projected to create 1,289 jobs. Once the whole site is operational, this will increase to 1,800 jobs. Memorandums of Understanding have been signed with Coleg Sir Gar, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea University and Cardiff University for the delivery of courses on site, with detailed heads of terms discussions on-going.Zone one of the project – anticipated for completion by the autumn of 2023 – will also include a state-of-the-art leisure and aquatics centre run by Carmarthenshire County Council, as well as extensive landscaping works to create car parks, public spaces and walkways.The wider Pentre Awel project will also feature assisted living accommodation and a nursing home. Integrated care and physical rehabilitation facilities will enable the testing and piloting of life science technologies aimed at enhancing independence and assisted livingA hotel, expansion space for businesses, and elements of both open market and social and affordable housing will also feature. Landscaped outdoor spaces for recreation on site will benefit from spectacular views across the Loughor Estuary and Carmarthen Bay.