1 May 2012
Award-winning consultants prepare Wrexham’s former gas works site and former Hightown flats site for a £13m redevelopment to begin this month.
Tweeds, a part of the WYG Group, is working on behalf of Wales & West Housing (WWH) as client's representative, cost advisor and construction health and safety advisor on the mixed-use development comprising 127 new homes plus a new community and medical facility.
The global consultancy has been instrumental in the appointment of the main contractor to undertake the development which includes 35 homes at Rivulet Road and 92 affordable-homes and apartments at Kingsmills Road, all of which are aspiring to meet level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes - the national standard for design and construction of sustainable homes.
David Duncalf, Director of Tweeds, part of the WYG Group said: “We have worked with Wales & West Housing for over 20 years developing a strong working relationship and understanding of their needs. We are looking forward to bringing this project to fruition and providing some much needed housing and a new community facility in Wrexham.
“The scheme has received support from Wrexham County Borough Council through a £5m social housing grant. This has enabled a proportion of the residential development to be affordable housing which is great for the area as it opens up further opportunities for homeownership. It is anticipated that many local jobs are to be created throughout the construction phase with work ongoing until late 2013.”
The derelict brown field site, on Rivulet Road, is also earmarked for a further 20 apartment development which is subject to a separate planning application due to be submitted in the spring of 2012. If planning permission is granted, the apartments will be built in conjunction with the redevelopment of the two sites.
Craig Sparrow, Development Manager, Wales & West Housing, said: “We have worked closely with the local community to create a development that fits their views and hopes for the area as well as providing the key elements Wrexham needs to accommodate the different housing requirements of the borough.
“We are looking forward to work starting and it is reassuring to have Tweeds on board ensuring that working conditions are healthy and safe before work begins, and ensuring that the proposed work is not going to put others at risk.
“Rivulet Road is on the site of an old gas works and requires a major remediation strategy to clean up the area prior to the development going ahead.”
Residents will also benefit from the new community facility which will offer a large activity hall, meeting rooms and kitchen. The new medical facility will be operated by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and will provide three consulting rooms and a treatment area.
It is anticipated that the redevelopment will be complete by autumn 2013.
Image caption: Artist impression of along Kingsmill Road. Courtesy of ISP Architects of Wrexham
