Official opening of @Loudoun

CCHA was joined by Health Minister Lesley Griffiths on 11th June to celebrate another key milestone in the £13m regeneration of Loudoun Square with the official opening of @Loudoun, a multi-functional building offering a host of services for the local community.

@Loudoun is home to the new Butetown health centre, a new Culture and Media Centre, three social enterprise units and Cardiff Council’s BEST and Hub information services.

The new Butetown Health Centre provides the local community with a whole host of services under one roof including two GP practices and a dental practice all with extra capacity for additional patients. The primary care element of this facility also includes an integral community pharmacy.

Community health services are also available including a dental surgery, District Nursing, Health Visiting, Child Health, Podiatry, Dietetics, Audiology, Sexual Health and Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia services.

Health Minister Lesley Griffiths welcomed the provision of the new integrated health centre: "Health services are at the heart of this excellent community development. @Loudoun won't just deliver economic and social benefits, but a range of high quality, accessible health services, working together to serve the needs of the local community."

Paul Hollard, Interim Chief Executive of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) added: "I am delighted that the UHB has able to provide such a comprehensive range of primary and community health services for the residents of Butetown, in one facility, @Loudoun. This is the culmination of a major work programme across a number of partners and I am extremely grateful to all those who have worked so hard on this project to make the vision a reality."

A community cinema, digital film making suite, celebration space, training and meeting rooms all make up an exciting new culture and media centre – CMC@Loudoun. Designed to be as flexible as possible, this space will form a creative hub for a wide range of community activities. Three social enterprise units provide affordable office accommodation for hire by local services providers or those wishing to set up a business.

Kevin Protheroe, Chief Executive of CCHA, said: "The opening of @Loudoun is significant for all partners involved, especially the local community. They now have access to high quality health, information and recreational services all under one roof. Our new culture and media centre offers free weekly film screenings for local residents, access to creative projects, space for community group activities and meeting and training rooms. We firmly believe that @Loudoun will have a big impact on the regeneration of Loudoun Square."

Council services are also available including 'The Hub at Butetown', a one-stop desk located on the ground floor, and the BEST centre, a training and enterprise service which provides help for jobseekers to find or train for work and career advice and guidance for those in or out of work on the first floor. Designed by architects Austin Smith Lord, the building is accessed via a bright airy atrium which leads to the health centre, pharmacy, culture and media centre and enterprise units.

The final phase of the project involves the demolition of the dilapidated 1960s Butetown health centre and completion of 48 apartments, 13 of which are specifically designed for disabled people and is due for completion in March 2013.

Coastal Housing Group - £8m scheme set create around 50 new jobs

A MULTI-MILLION pound project to breathe new life into a historic section of Swansea city centre will go before planners in the autumn.
Housing group Coastal is hoping to develop an £8 million commercial and housing scheme in land off Castle Lane which could see the creation of more than 100 jobs.
The Castle Quarter project just off the strand would offer affordable accommodation and commercial units in a single building.
If it were to be given the go-ahead Coastal Housing bosses hope the development could be completed by mid-2014.
Construction would begin by March of next year if the company can secure planning permission.
An application is yet to be submitted. But Coastal is hoping to have completed this stage of the process in the next three months.
The development could see around 50 jobs created in the construction phase with a further 60 positions potentially being opened up when the commercial units begin trading.
The Castle Quarter development is earmarked to include 26 apartments available on an affordable rent basis.
A further four units will be available for private sale.

Above: Located on Wind Street, Swansea castle  stands on a clifftop, below which the river Tawe originally flowed.

Coastal's director of development Gerraint Oakley said: "This project represents a significant investment which we hope will reinvigorate this historic part of the city centre.
"We have a unique opportunity to develop something special here which will offer affordable accommodation in a city centre location."
Coastal will hold a series of public information events at its offices next month.
Mr Oakley added: "Plans for the development will be available to view at our information events and I would urge anyone interested in finding out more to come along."

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/pound-8m-scheme-set-revive-historic-area-Swansea/story-16455544-detail/story.html

Update: Pathway to Apprenticeship Student James is transferred using the power of consortia, with a fantastic outcome- an apprenticeship!

In March, we blogged about Pathway to Apprenticeship (PtA) student James gaining valuable work experience on Newydd Housing Assocation’s Code for Sustainable Homes level 5 development in Penarth, being built by the Leadbitter Group. Following the ten week placement on site, James continually impressed the Leadbitter team and sub-contractors with his commitment to learning and passion for construction. Following completion of the bricklaying phase of the four town houses, James was offered a transfer to one of Taff Housing Association’s new build sites, utilising the power of consortia.  

Taff’s Albert Walk development in Canton, Cardiff includes 5 flats and 10 houses with a small courtyard and parking area. As a result of the transfer between Integrate housing association members, James has gained a further four weeks bricklaying experience, which has subsequently lead to a provisional bricklaying apprenticeship offer.

Steve James of Leadbitter sub-contractor S J Brickwork is currently liaising with CSkills to formalise James’s contract of employment. “During the course of both placements James has become valued team member working to a high standard at all times. The idea of losing such a strong and committed brickie has spurred me into taking him on our books as an apprentice Bricklayer.”

Video below: Albert Walk Site Manager Rob Harris praised the transfer process of PtA students and apprentices through the power of consortia.