North Wales News

[SteveH]

Maybe every town needs a couple of Hollywood stars to help regeneration 

The UK Government is to relocate more than 300 roles from London to Wrexham. The Government has pledged to move 22,000 positions out of the UK capital by 2027.

As part of this they said the city in North Wales will get extra roles in the DWP and the Ministry of Justice departments. They said it demonstrated their commitment to 'levelling-up.

This could bring an estimated economic benefit of around ?9m due to additional spending in the area.

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said: "More than 300 jobs moving to Wrexham is fantastic news for the economy of north east Wales. It shows once again the UK Government?s commitment to improving how services are delivered to the public while bringing greater opportunity and jobs to areas across the country.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/uk-government-relocate-more-300-28271268

[SteveH]

Six developments that can drive the North Wales economy in 2024
From a new hotel to service stations and business units

Spiralling costs have seriously impacted development plans in recent years and seen some developers go bust. Prices are now starting to stabilise and it is hoped this will give companies the confidence to push on with investment plans in 2024.

There are a number of developments in the pipeline that can help kickstart the North Wales economy over the year. They range from a new hotel to housing and business units - with hopes they will bring new jobs to the area.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/six-developments-can-drive-north-28322230?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Bangor based developer Watkin Jones plunged to a ?42.5m pre-tax loss over the last year due to building safety remedial works and restructuring but remains confident about the future. The costs set aside for cladding remediation wiped out ?35m, while a further ?3.1m charge was made against an internal restructure.

They were also hit with additional build costs on a scheme in Exeter, where the third-party main contractor went into liquidation while build cost inflation also reduced the margin on some schemes during the year.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-developer-watkin-jones-28500430

[SteveH]

Rhyl Air Show cancelled for 2024 due to Red Arrows decision                      ref DP
It follows the announcement of the Red Arrows 60th season anniversary international tour this Summer

"Unfortunately, we have been informed that they will be away on an international tour over the summer, and unavailable for UK displays. With the programme already subject to scrutiny over recent years, we believe the Red Arrows to be irreplaceable, and that their loss would inevitably lead to criticism of the Air Show. We have concluded that it would be impossible for DLL to deliver a show in keeping with the proud tradition of the Rhyl Air Show, which also meets public expectations, but we will come back in 2025 stronger."

[SteveH]

Serious Fraud Office raids development group that wanted to turn hospital into asylum-themed hotel
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has today raided three residences and made four arrests in Merseyside and Greater Manchester

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has today raided three residences and made four arrests in Merseyside and Greater Manchester as it announced it is investigating Signature Group. The group attracted over a thousand UK and international investors in the redevelopment of iconic landmarks including Belfast?s Scottish Mutual Building and the Coal Exchange in Cardiff.

They had also attempted to buy up the old North Wales Hospital in Denbigh and turn it into an asylum-themed hotel complex. This later collapsed as Denbighshire council looked elsewhere for its investment partner in its bid to bring the site back to life.

The Signature Group operated for over seven years, buying up predominantly historic buildings within the UK for redevelopment into luxury hotels, residential apartments and office spaces. Investors loaned money to Signature or purchased a hotel room, apartment or office space in one of the group?s properties, with promised returns on their investment of between 8% and 15%. The business collapsed into administration with losses of up to ?140 million.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/serious-fraud-office-raids-development-28675573


PS
Millions of pounds in funds to redevelop former North Wales asylum gets initial approval
Growth Deal funding moves a step closer with approval of the outline business case

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/millions-pounds-funds-redevelop-former-28614541

[SteveH]

All good projects, but 20.8 million pounds ?......................                       ref pioneer

WELSH Government is investing ?20.8million in north Wales to improve public transport and encourage economic growth, the cabinet secretary for North Wales and transport, Ken Skates, has said.

As part of Wales? Transport Strategy, the support includes funding for active travel and safe routes, road safety, electric vehicle charging facilities, road resilience, transport and adopted roads. 

In North Wales, ?20.8m will be invested in projects such as:

Improving walking and cycling connections to Llandudno railway station.

A safer route to walk, scoot and cycle to Ysgol Treffynnon and Ysgol Maes Y Felin in Holywell.

An active travel route connecting Holyhead railway station and ferry terminal with Penrhos employment and retail sites, the leisure

centre, Parc Cybi and Trearddur Bay.

Support the Sherpa?r Wyddfa bus service in Eryri. 

Mr Skates said: ?These grants are a substantial investment to support sustainable local economic growth, enhance public transport facilities and create and improve routes that will enable and encourage more people in Wales to walk, wheel and cycle.

?The projects are prime examples of the practical solutions we have asked local authorities to design in order to make it easier for residents to connect with their places of employment and businesses, and to do so more sustainably.?

This funding also builds on allocations which have been made to different phases of some projects in previous years. 

[SteveH]

Lets hope this gets sorted, just the type of business NW needs................

'Devastation' as £27m Anglesey cheese plant shuts down and seeks buyer a year after opening
Mona Dairy's main shareholders said they were 'so close' to making the project a success

A cutting-edge cheese factory on Anglesey has run into difficulties and is looking for a buyer. Mona Diary said it was “devastated” it had “come up short” in delivering Europe’s “newest and most sustainable cheese factory”.

The company said it had failed to source sufficient short-term funding from key stakeholders to “keep functioning in its current form”. An interim milk buyer has been found for the factory’s 31 farmer suppliers. Staff will be kept on for as long as possible while the Mona Dairy works through its options.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/devastation-27m-anglesey-cheese-plant-29256341

[Hugo]

The North Wales seaside village ranked one of UK's 30 best places to live
The resort has long been a popular destination
That's strange, I thought that most of the villagers actually lived in Cheshire     



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/trips-breaks/north-wales-seaside-village-ranked-29264045

[SteveH]

A leading civil engineering firm has been appointed to deliver crucial multi-million-pound coastal defence improvements in North Wales. Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK is utilising its expertise on the £13m Kinmel Bay development after being selected by Conwy County Borough Council following a competitive tender process.

The Ruthin-headquartered company will procure and import up to 80,000 tonnes of rock armour, sourced from North Wales quarries, to strengthen the current revetment between Towyn and Kinmel Bay. Jones Bros will also raise just under 2km of existing sea wall by 500-750mm and replace two floodgates as part of plans to minimise the impact of stormy weather and associated coastal flooding.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/multi-million-pound-seafront-defence-29307764

[Hugo]

Post Office hero Alan Bates and the North Wales people recognised in King's Birthday Honours
'It was a bit of a surprise, it sort of came out of the blue'


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/post-office-hero-alan-bates-29355123

[SteveH]

Mobile networks swamped by tourists causing 'embarrassing' problems for North Wales
A Conwy taxi driver said he sometimes can't take fares as network capacities become overloaded

New figures have shown the stimulating effect of tourism on the North Wales economy as the sector heads into the high season. But businesses can struggle to take advantage of the boom because of the stretched capacity of mobile signal networks, according to a taxi driver sometimes unable to take payments from customers.

While mobile coverage continues to improve across the country - 86 Westminister-funded 4G masts are currently being rolled out in Wales - drop-outs remain a problem even in areas with strong signals. In summer, Conwy cabbie Dave Fare can struggle to use his SumUp card machine – a mobile payment device that accounts for almost 70% of his transactions.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mobile-networks-swamped-tourists-causing-29357595?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Interesting in depth article............

Parts of North Wales lie near bottom of UK table on important economic measure
The GVA figures make bad reading for some areas in North Wales but other parts perform much better

Parts of North Wales are near the bottom of a UK table when it comes to productivity. The ONS has released the latest national, regional, and sub-regional statistics for GVA per hour - a measure how much money is generated through goods produced and services delivered.

The figures from 2022 continue to show that Wales is lagging behind other parts of the UK. GVA per hour worked (relative to the UK) was 82.7% in 2022 - it was an increase of 0.8 percentage points over the previous year but still kept the country bottom of the table in the UK. It was also second bottom in provisional GVA per head figures.

Read more.. https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/parts-north-wales-lie-near-29383300

[SteveH]

Plans to breathe new life into a former Grade-II listed hospital have moved a big step closer after they cleared a major planning hurdle. Councillors have green-lighted plans to build up to 334 homes at the old North Wales Hospital site in Denbigh.

The site is much cherished by local people but it has fallen into disrepair since closing in 1995. The former asylum was acquired by the council through compulsory purchase in 2018 and its use for housing is seen as crucial if the historic core is to be saved.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/relief-bid-build-334-homes-29567895?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Sounds very good for the area, and no mention of taxpayers grants?

A £50 million project to redevelop a theatre in North Wales will create 100 new jobs. Once completed the massive makeover at Theatr Clwyd in Mold will generate an annual boost of up to £30 million for the local economy as well as making it a carbon positive building for much of the time.

“The redevelopment is going to enhance all our theatre making capabilities. We’re one of only four theatres in the whole of the UK that still has all the making departments in-house, the costume makers, the scenic artists, the scenic construction with the welders and carpenters, the props makers and the lighting and sound technicians.

“As a result, we have a specific space to train the talent of the future talent in those departments.

“The other benefit is that it gives us dedicated space for our extensive communities programme – arts and health programmes for the NHS, our work with social services and housing associations along with refugee charities. There’s also dedicated youth hub spaces.

“We’ll also have dedicated event spaces that will help drive revenue – whether it’s small board meetings, big conferences or sit down dinners for 200 people.

“On top of all that we’ll have brand new kitchens where our new catering partner, Bryn Williams and his team, will give people yet another reason to come here.

Full article  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-theatre-restaurant-development-29795455

[Hugo]

People vow to 'cover up' as AI face-mapping cameras deploy in North Wales
The technology was first used on Anglesey when 6,259 faces were scanned




https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/people-pledge-cover-up-ai-29887737