A huge building in the centre of Carmarthen which was the home of Debenhams for more than a decade is to be re-opened and transformed into a town centre hub containing a state-of-the art gym.
The plans are part of a wider scheme to develop town centre hubs in south west Wales, with £19.9m in funding having been secured from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund to create spaces that will, according to Carmarthenshire Council, “benefit local residents, businesses, and visitors”, with £3.5m in match funding also coming from the council's capital budget. You can keep up to date with the latest Carmarthenshire news by signing up to the local newsletter here.
A smaller hub will be developed at South Quay in Pembroke, but the larger venue will be created at the former Debenhams building in Carmarthen in a project the council is spearheading in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB) and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), along with other service providers. The building has been largely empty - apart from temporary pop-up shops for a limited time - since Debenhams closed the doors for the last time in May, 2021.
Read more: Seven hurt in two-car crash in west Wales
Before that, it had been the biggest shop in Carmarthen since April, 2010, when it opened to much fanfare and excitement as the main draw for the new multi-million pound St Catherine’s Walk Shopping Centre, which was built on and around the site of the old Carmarthen Mart, which was subsequently moved out of town to the Nantyci area just off the A40 as you head west towards Pembrokeshire.
The new hub - which will be called ‘Carmarthen Hwb’ - will be the first of its kind in Carmarthenshire, bringing together a range of key public services including state-of-the-art leisure, culture and exhibition spaces alongside health and tourist information, customer services and access to further and higher education.
According to the plans, the ground floor of the building will be home to a new health and fitness centre, comprising a council-run 50-station gym, health studios and changing and shower facilities. The ground floor will also boast a reception area and a large health suite managed by the health board, made up of three clinical departments and wellbeing zones. There are also plans for an external courtyard in the centre of the building.
On the first floor, a large section will be taken up by Carmarthenshire Council Museums, with a reception area, shop, collections, exhibits and more. It will be an "entirely new, behind the scenes museum experience" which will being together collections that are currently in storage at other locations across the county. Elsewhere on the first floor there will be a section taken up by the health board focusing on community mental health, adult mental health and support areas, and a flexible space including open plan classrooms managed by UWTSD.
According to the plans, there will also be a second floor (located in the building's partial third storey) with more space taken by the health board, comprising offices, meeting rooms and a staff roof terrace. It is hoped that the building's transformation will be complete and ready to be opened to the public by the spring of 2024.
“We are delighted to be working with our public sector partners on this ground-breaking project which will bring this prime commercial space back into use to help boost the local economy and transform the town centre,” said Councillor Gareth John, cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture and tourism at Carmarthenshire Council. "One of the main aims of our post-pandemic economic recovery plan is to strengthen the vitality and longevity of our town centres and by delivering a new mix of services to the traditional high street, we can attract more people and help to increase footfall for neighbouring shops and businesses.
“People will be able to call in to the Carmarthen Hwb to access health and social care services, a state-of-the-art town centre gym, access to employment support and public services, as well as university facilities and lifelong learning opportunities. It could also provide a more central home for some of our museum collections, with exhibition space, and act as a welcome point for visitors to the town. It is important that we work with local businesses on this project which will add value to the products and services already on offer in the town centre to encourage more people into town, and in turn increase trade for everyone.”
Lee Davies, executive director of strategic development and operational planning at HDUHB, added: “We’re excited to be working with our partners on the Carmarthen Hwb development. The new facility is an important part of our strategy for a healthier mid and west Wales, bringing health and well-being closer to home for our communities. It will provide a range of health, well-being, learning and cultural services to help people of all ages access key services all in one place.”
The vice-chancellor of the UWTSD Group, professor Medwin Hughes, said: “The university is delighted to be part of this exciting project. It offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with partners to revitalise our town centres by offering a mix of leisure, cultural and education opportunities to benefit residents and businesses. The university looks forward to working with Carmarthenshire Council on realising the vision for the Carmarthen Hwb.”
Read next:
- The town that’s seen a number of shops close during year from hell and what happens next
- How a turbulent two years in Carmarthen could be a blueprint for the future of the Welsh high street
- Mysterious seagull artwork appears across Welsh town
- Sick patients to move to different Welsh hospital on safety grounds
- New look for Swansea's Castle Square revealed as planning application goes in
Find out about the latest local issues where you live
