£2.5m plan to transform warehouse going well
WORK to transform the Jennings Building in Porthcawl is making good progress and is set to provide a major boost to tourism when the new-look waterfront building is revealed.
Bridgend council leader Huw David and Councillor Charles Smith, cabinet member for education and regeneration, visited the Grade II-listed structure to see for themselves how it is being transformed by Wales-based developers ABA Holdings.
The ground floor will offer several new commercial units including a 5,000 sq ft theatre-style kitchen restaurant and bar complete with a fullheight atrium, and the upper level will feature 13 live-work units complete with loft bedrooms that will enable occupants to live and work on site.
All 13 of the live-work units have already been taken up, and the busi- nesses that will occupy the restaurant and other commercial units will be announced soon. The construction has created more than 30 jobs and the revamped premises will offer a further 50 positions.
More than £2.5m has been invested in the project which includes support from Finance Wales and townscape heritage funding provided via Bridgend County Borough Council from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Cadw.
Councillor Smith said: “This is a really exciting development for Porthcawl.
“The transformed Jennings Building is going to be a major asset for the area that will greatly enrich the visitor experience, support the local economy, create new jobs and prove to be extremely popular with local residents.
“I have huge hopes for this project, and I am looking forward to the announcement about which businesses will be based at the revamped building.”
The Jennings Building is widely considered to be one of the few remaining early dockside warehouse buildings from its era in South Wales.
Built in 1832, it was originally constructed as the southern terminus of the Dyffryn Llynfi Porthcawl horse-drawn tram road, which was used to transport iron and coal from the Llynfi Valley, and was more recently used as an indoor skatepark.
Council leader Huw David said: “It’s great to see how well the work is progressing, and I know the end results will be very impressive.
“This ambitious project is an important factor in our overall regeneration plans for Porthcawl.
“Together with the new marina and proposed developments such as the Maritime Centre, it will make the waterfront area even more attractive to visitors and residents, and prove to be a landmark feature for the town.”