Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council are transforming the old retail store into a state-of-the-art health, wellbeing, education and leisure hub.
Carmarthenshire County Council and lead contractor Bouygues UK hosted a milestone event at Carmarthen’s new Health and Wellbeing Hwb, which will provide a variety of facilities for the community under one roof.
Guests, including members of the Welsh Government, took the opportunity to see first-hand the progress of the re-fit of the former Debenhams store at St Catherine’s Walk. When work is complete, Carmarthenshire residents will be able to access community health services that are being provided by Hywel Dda University Health Board. Alongside health and wellbeing services, the remodelled building will partner with Actif Sport and Leisure to facilitate a new 24-hour gym, which will include top of the range equipment, and flexible fitness suites for group and individual workouts.
Carmarthenshire County Council will also be introducing a unique leisure-time offering for the area, with a high-spec family entertainment centre that will include a range of activities that people young and old can enjoy together, including indoor adventure golf, toy town soft play, E-Go Karting and TAG Active. The entertainment centre will also house a café and party rooms.
Lead contractor Bouygues UK is using local subcontractors as part of its commitment to provide employment, training and skills opportunities to local people and underrepresented groups. Work started in July and is progressing well, with internal drainage installed with new ground floor cast, completion of the roof-top plant room steel frame and secondary steelwork on all floors for roof voids, glazed screens and risers is currently on-going. Internal works have also has commenced with dry lining and mechanical and electrical works on level one and two.
As part of Bouygues UK’s social value delivery, the contractor is engaging with local schools, community groups and working with local employment partners to offer employment opportunities. It has also donated a Christmas tree which is on display in Carmarthen High Street for the festive season.
Managing Director for Wales and the South West, John Boughton said:
“The transformation of this former department store, in collaboration with Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Dda University Health Board, and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, is progressing hugely well and it’s great to give our guests today the opportunity to see it for themselves.
“By refurbishing the former Debenhams instead of rebuilding it, we are not only revitalising nearly 8,000 square metres of commercial space in the heart of the town, we are also staying true to Bouygues UK’s commitment to environmental sustainability. As we progress with the Hwb alongside our local supply chain, this space will become an essential and accessible hub for education, healthcare, and leisure within the community.”
Once open to the public, the Hwb is expected to boost footfall in the town centre, strengthening economic resilience for local traders and retailers. The closure of the department store in May 2021 had a significant impact on town centre trade, but the introduction of this innovative, all-in-one Hwb—the first of its kind in Carmarthenshire—aims to reverse that trend. By offering a wide range of public and leisure services under one roof, it is hoped the Hwb will attract more visitors from across the region to the town centre.
Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Cllr Darren Price commented:
“It was a privilege to attend the Health and Wellbeing Hwb construction site today. I was able to see firsthand the hard work undertaken by all those working on the development.
“Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council are deeply dedicated to supporting the local supply chain at all stages of the project, alongside engaging with local people about what the Health and Wellbeing Hwb can offer them once open. Congratulations to all those involved this far, and good luck for the next stages.”
Welsh Government Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, added:
“This project will make a massive difference to the community and benefit a wide range of people. It will provide a boost to both mental and physical health and wellbeing, providing health services including women’s health, leisure, entertainment, fitness and learning opportunities. I’m glad we’ve been able to support this project with over £10m of Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund (IRCF) funding and look forward to seeing it progress.”
Neil Wooding, Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board said:
“We are delighted that local people have today had the opportunity to see, in person, the progress being made with the Hwb development, and to talk to project staff directly about the facilities it will offer.
“We are confident the local community will benefit from the wide range of health and well-being services planned for the Hwb and we look forward to working collaboratively with our partners to see that come to fruition in the years ahead.”
Professor Gareth Davies, Dean of the Institute of Management and Health, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, said:
“It is great to see the progress made on the Health and Wellbeing Hwb today. The initiative will enable the university to develop our offer to the community and provide opportunities for our students, particularly those studying our sport, health and wellbeing programmes. This is an excellent initiative which brings together educational, cultural and leisure opportunities under one roof to attract more people into the town centre. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board on this development for the benefit of residents and businesses.”
This project is funded in partnership with £7million from Welsh Government via the Health and Social Care Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund Programme, as part of the wider West Wales Regional Partnership Board Capital Programme and also funding of £18m from the UK Government.
