Goodsheds development scoops double award
THE Goodsheds development has celebrated double success at this year’s Ystadau Cymru 2020 Awards
A collaborative project involving the Vale of Glamorgan Council, DS Properties Limited, Newydd Housing Association and Welsh Government, it saw a former railway storage building transformed into a variety of commercial space and accommodation.
The development on Hood Road in Barry is made up of a shipping container village of office facilities, retail units, restaurants and a coffee shop alongside an apartment complex.
It is the latest in a string of regeneration schemes to have been completed in the town and scooped two prizes at a ceremony that recognises public estates collaboration projects including private or third sector partners in Wales.
The Goodsheds came out on top in the Creating Economic Growth section and the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans, also confirmed the project as the overall ‘winner of winners’, recognising it as the best project across all categories.
Cllr Neil Moore, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: “The Goodsheds is a hugely exciting and imaginative urban regeneration project and I’m delighted it has been celebrated in this way. “The Goodsheds project is a great example of collaboration between the public and private sectors, brought about by developer DS Properties, the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Welsh Government and Newydd Housing Association.
“It is a fantastic development that has breathed new life into an important and historic local building and created much needed jobs, homes and leisure facilities for the benefit of Barry and beyond.
“This is part of widespread regeneration work taking place across Barry and follows on from a series of similar schemes. The award-winning Hang Fire Southern Kitchen, Academy espresso bar and other businesses are operating as part of the Pumphouse redevelopment, while further exciting projects in the pipeline include proposals for a new college campus, primary school and The Engine Room, which will offer further quality office accommodation.”
The Ystadau Cymru 2020 Creating Economic Growth Award recognises a public sector organisation for using its estate to bring about economic growth by creating jobs, homes and business opportunities. Applications were encouraged to show how those projects have achieved economic growth through collaboration with multiple partners.
The panel hailed the project as one of the most ambitious and successful entered into the awards.
The principles of live, work and play have been delivered through a mix of uses centred on community, providing flexible opportunities for businesses to start up and grow. It was felt that the project clearly demonstrated the five ways of working through the adoption of a place making approach, in particular strong community involvement; genuine collaboration; integration through a wide range of mixed uses and its long-term regeneration approach.
There were other awards under the categories of environmental sustainability, integrated service delivery, cost efficiency and best value for money.
Jason Wroe, Chief Executive of Newydd said: “This fantastic news is testament to our successful partnership as well as proving the value of moving away from traditional zoned projects. Residents have already started moving into our apartments, providing high quality and affordable homes within a community where people can socialise, work and live. These are essential ingredients in any successful regeneration project, creating a sustainable community in the heart of Barry for years to come.”
The Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn, said: “The Goodsheds will not only bring about economic growth, but create jobs, homes, and business opportunities. It is a fantastic example of collaborative working and how support though our Transforming Towns programme can be used to bring a historical, but neglected, building back into use so that it benefits the entire community.
“I am pleased this innovative project has been recognised with two awards at this year’s Ystadau Cymru Awards and look forward to visiting The Goodsheds in the future.”
Simon Baston, Managing Director of DS Properties, said: “We are delighted to have worked alongside the Vale of Glamorgan and Welsh Government to provide the first new urban High Street of its kind in the UK, that specialises in community collaboration and gives the opportunity for many Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) incubation businesses. “We hope that the Goodsheds becomes a template for other communities and town centres that need repurposing/revitalising along with the fantastic support that it has had to date, it should move from strength to strength.”