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LLANELLI: Residents wanted for board steering town’s £20m, 10-year transformation
Residents, community leaders and business owners in Llanelli are being invited to help steer a £20m investment in the town over the next decade.
The money comes through the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme, and Carmarthenshire County Council is now setting up a Neighbourhood Board to decide how it is spent.
The board will focus on the Llanelli town area, covering parts of the Bigyn, Elli, Lliedi, Tyisha and Glanymor wards.
The aim is for the board to be community-led, made up of people who know the area and want a say in how it changes over the coming years.
Stephen Donoghue has been appointed as the board’s independent chair.
Llanelli is the latest area in the region to set up a board under the programme, which is being rolled out across the country.
A similar £20m drive in Swansea will see a homelessness charity boss chair the board overseeing communities north of the railway station.
In Neath Port Talbot, a former council chief executive is leading the £20m revival of the Upper Afan Valley.
Carmarthenshire’s cabinet member for regeneration, leisure and tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans, said the programme was a major investment in the town’s future and a chance for local people to shape how their communities grow.
She said the council wanted to hear directly from residents, businesses and organisations who knew the area best, and encouraged anyone passionate about Llanelli to put themselves forward.
Stephen Donoghue said it was a privilege to chair the board, describing the programme as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring lasting change.
He said he was committed to a board that was representative and inclusive, bringing together residents, businesses, public services and voluntary groups as equal partners to shape a shared vision for the town.
Dame Nia Griffith, the Labour MP for Llanelli, was blunt about the kind of people being sought.
“We want doers not talkers, people who can lead subcommittees and can galvanise and harness all the enthusiasm and good ideas that are coming forward and help us turn them into a coherent plan, and above all who are passionate about Llanelli,” she said.
People wanting to apply can request an application pack by emailing [email protected].
The deadline for applications is midday on 6 July.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Swansea charity boss to lead £20m drive to transform neighbourhoods
How Swansea’s Pride in Place board is taking shape.Former council chief to lead Afan Valley’s £20m regeneration drive
Neath Port Talbot’s version of the same programme.MBE for the council chief now leading the Afan Valley’s £20m revival
#CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrHazelEvans #Llanelli #NiaGriffithMP #PrideInPlace
Recognition for the volunteer chair of a neighbouring board. -
New £15m eco‑business hubs filling up fast, says Welsh Government as demand surges in Carmarthenshire
Ministers say the £15m investment — jointly funded by the Welsh Government and Carmarthenshire County Council — has delivered new sustainable business units at Parc Gelli Werdd in Cross Hands and a second scheme now under construction at Beechwood Industrial Estate in Llandeilo.
According to the Welsh Government, Parc Gelli Werdd’s 26 “state‑of‑the‑art” workshops and offices are already demonstrating “strong market demand” for low‑carbon premises. The Government says the site includes an energy‑management system allowing tenants to control electricity use for cost efficiencies, alongside high‑performance insulation and solar panels designed to reduce running costs and environmental impact.
Officials say the development is around 70% let, with further enquiries being considered for the remaining units.
The Welsh Government also says five new energy‑efficient industrial units are being built at Beechwood Industrial Estate. The scheme, due for completion in June, is described by ministers as being designed to meet a “Net Zero carbon in‑operation target” and will include electric vehicle charging points.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans said businesses consistently highlight the need for modern, flexible space.
“Businesses tell us how access to modern business spaces is crucial to helping them expand and grow,” she said. “Both of these developments in Carmarthenshire deliver to exceptional environmental standards and will reduce operational costs for occupying businesses whilst minimising environmental impact.”
Carmarthenshire County Council says the partnership is helping create high‑quality space for local firms. Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism Cllr Hazel Evans said the new units will support business growth in the county.
#Business #businessHub #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CarmarthenshireCountyCouncil #CllrHazelEvans #CrossHands #energyEfficientIndustrialUnits #Llandeilo #newOffices #RebeccaEvansMS #WelshGovernment #workshop“Through collaborative working with Welsh Government, these energy‑efficient commercial units will provide fantastic, flexible spaces for businesses in Carmarthenshire to thrive,” she said.
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Canolfan Pentre Awel opens its doors in Llanelli after years of anticipation
Residents and local sports clubs were the first through the doors of Canolfan Pentre Awel on Wednesday (15 October), the flagship first phase of the 83‑acre development at Delta Lakes.
The centrepiece leisure hub boasts a 25‑metre, eight‑lane swimming pool, learner pool, hydrotherapy pool, cutting‑edge gym, eight‑court sports hall, and dedicated spin and dance studios. Community spaces, meeting rooms, a café, and scenic coastal paths also form part of the new facility.
Drone view of Pentre Awel with Llanelli town in the background.(Credit: Carmarthenshire Council.)Exterior of Canolfan Pentre Awel with electric vehicle charging points.(Image: Credit: Carmarthenshire Council.)Pentre Awel’s new 25m swimming pool, designed by Powell Dobson Architects.(Credit: Powell Dobson Architects.)Swimming lanes marked out at Pentre Awel’s new pool.(Credit: Carmarthenshire Council.)A milestone for Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire Council leader Cllr Darren Price hailed the opening as “a clear example of what we can achieve through collaboration across services, sectors, and communities.”
Cabinet member Cllr Hazel Evans described the centre as “a cornerstone of our vision for a stronger, healthier Carmarthenshire,” adding that it was designed to be “centred around our community and a true example of what can be achieved when all sectors come together.”
The £40m Swansea Bay City Deal contribution, alongside funding from UK and Welsh Governments and the council, has underpinned the project.
Aerial view of the South Wales steel and tinplate works at Llanelli in 1929, showing the site in its industrial heyday.
(Credit: © Crown Copyright, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, Aerofilms Collection.)From Tinopolis to Breezy Village
19th Century – Tinopolis
Llanelli earned the nickname ‘Tinopolis’ as it became a global centre of tinplate production. Families worked in hot, dangerous conditions producing tinplate for everything from food cans to toys. Felinfoel Brewery even filled the first tinplate beer cans in Britain.1861 – Brickworks
William Thomas established a brickworks on the Delta Lakes site, using rich clay deposits. He also built workers’ housing known as Brick Row to support Llanelli’s early growth.Late 19th to mid-20th Century – Tinplate Works
The South Wales Tinplate Works, founded by Edward Moorewood and John Rogers, dominated the area with mills, rail sidings and loading bays. Expanded in 1911, the works thrived until post-war decline led to demolition by 1951.1960s–1990s – Delta Lakes
As heavy industry faded, the former shipping channel was landscaped into Delta Lakes. New paths and roads were laid, including the roundabout still seen today.2025 – Pentre Awel
The site is reborn as Canolfan Pentre Awel, a £218m wellness village. Its name, meaning “Breezy Village”, reflects the coastal setting, while the architecture pays tribute to the area’s industrial heritage with light‑filled spaces and natural materials designed to “bring the outside in”.End of an era for Jubilee Pool
The opening also signals the closure of Llanelli Leisure Centre and Jubilee Pool, which had served the town since 1963.
Llanelli Amateur Swimming Club marked the moment by becoming the last to train at the old pool and the first to dive into the new one. Club secretary Nicola Morris said the move offered “security” after years of uncertainty caused by repairs and closures.
Lifeguard Teyan Burt reflected on the handover as “the end of an era,” paying tribute to the centre’s 62 years of service.
The old Llanelli Leisure Centre, closed after 62 years of service.(Credit: Rob Welch.)Mixed community reaction
While many residents welcomed the state‑of‑the‑art facilities, others voiced concerns about the project’s cost and location.
Town centre traders Jane McDonald and Becky Foden told the BBC they feared the out‑of‑town site could draw footfall away from the market and high street. “It looks all right [but] it’s a lot of money,” said Becky. “What about our market? And our town centre?”
By contrast, Edward Morgan, 82, from Burry Port, said he was optimistic: “I think it’s certainly an improvement from the old swimming pool… I plan to use the onsite healthcare facilities for my regular blood tests.”
Direct overhead drone image of the Pentre Awel development.(Credit: Bouygues UK.)What’s next
The wider £218m Pentre Awel project will be delivered in phases over the coming years. Plans include 370 assisted living units, healthcare and research facilities, business incubation space, housing, a nursing home, and a hotel.
Spanning an area equivalent to 40 rugby pitches, the development is billed as the first of its kind in Wales, bringing together health, leisure, business, and community services on one coastal site.
An official opening ceremony with UK and Welsh Government representatives is expected later this year.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Llanelli Leisure Centre could become new home for Ysgol Dewi Sant
Plans are being considered to repurpose the old leisure centre following the move to Pentre Awel.Plans submitted for new 120-bed hotel on Llanelli’s coast
A major new hotel development is proposed as part of the wider regeneration of the town’s waterfront.Construction starts on Llanelli’s Pentre Awel wellness village
Work began on the landmark £200m project at Delta Lakes.Planning approved for Llanelli’s multi-million pound Pentre Awel development
Councillors gave the green light for the ambitious scheme at Delta Lakes.Council appoints contractor to deliver Llanelli’s Pentre Awel scheme
The main contractor was confirmed to lead the first phase of the project.#BouyguesUK #CanolfanPentreAwel #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrDarrenPrice #CllrHazelEvans #construction #danceStudio #DeltaLakes #featured #gym #JubileePool #LeisureCentre #Llanelli #LlanelliLeisureCentre #PentreAwel #sportsHall #SwanseaBayCityDeal #swimmingPool #WellnessCentre