£12m low-carbon business units in Carmarthenshire
Welsh government and Carmarthenshire County Council invest in sustainable commercial development at Parc Gelli Werdd
The strong market demand for sustainable business premises is being demonstrated by a commercial development in Wales supported by £12m investment from the Welsh government and Carmarthenshire County Council. Of the 26 new, state-of-the-art workshops and offices at Parc Gelli Werdd, 13 are already occupied. A further three are under offer.
Rebecca Evans (Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning) and Cllr Darren Price (Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council) at the Parc Gelli Werdd development, photo courtesy of Welsh government
Part of the Cross Hands East Strategic Employment Site some 24 km (15 miles) west of Swansea, the new low-carbon development boasts high-performance insulation and roof-mounted solar panels that will deliver reduced building running costs and benefit the environment.
The innovative building-management system incorporates a bespoke metering and monitoring platform. This enables enable billing and detailed performance monitoring, so that tenants can manage electricity consumption to achieve cost efficiencies. The technology will also help the site meet wider ‘Net Zero carbon in-operation’ targets.
When fully developed, the Cross Hands East Strategic Employment Site will offer some 31,000 square metres of employment floorspace for up to 50 SMEs, with the potential for up to 1,000 jobs. The tech infrastructure includes dual broadband ducting to allow developers flexibility in their choice of supplier.
Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, says: ‘We are determined to stimulate green economic growth, creating sustainable employment opportunities and supporting Wales’ transition to a low-carbon economy. I’ve spoken to so many businesses both here in Carmarthenshire and elsewhere who have been clear that creating localised, well connected, high-quality business spaces with sustainability at their core, is a priority for expansion and job creation.
‘The Parc Gelli Werdd development has been built to exceptional environmental standards and will reduce operational costs for occupying businesses whilst minimising environmental impact, in accordance with the Net Zero Strategic Plan.’
Chris Jones, owner of Conquer Teamwear, is among the first to take a place in the new site. He comments: ‘Moving into units 3 & 4 at Parc Gelli Werdd has been a great boost for our business and will help with the continued growth of Conquer Teamwear. The units are of a really high specification and the location is perfect for our staff and customers, being just a few minutes off the dual carriageway and Cross Hands roundabout.
Cllr Darren Price, Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, adds: ‘The Parc Gelli Werdd development is an important example of how the local authority and Welsh Government can collaborate to deliver high quality business space with sustainability at its core. The County Council is committed to tackling the climate emergency, working towards our Net Zero Carbon goal, and business space like this prove that this ambition is possible.
‘It is encouraging to see a number of Carmarthenshire businesses already utilising this space, allowing them to grow their business create local jobs and pursue their own sustainability goals moving forward.’
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