Rhondda Cynon Taf Councillors Russell Roberts and Paul Cannon, along with Owen Smith MP and Assembly Member Mick Antoniw witnessed the first of the steel frames being installed for the new Sainsbury’s Store in Pontypridd when they visited the site on Thursday, 22 December.
Cllr Russell Roberts, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said the authority welcomed the redevelopment of the Brown Lenox site by Sainsbury’s, which represents a major contribution to the overall £75million masterplan to regenerate Pontypridd.
He said: “Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is currently undertaking a £10.5million regeneration scheme for the town centre and we welcome the further investment of other stakeholders, including those redeveloping the Taff Vale Precinct and refurbishing Pontypridd Railway Station.
“Our long-term plan is to ensure the current regeneration work is a catalyst to generate local employment opportunities, increase the number of visitors, create stronger and more diverse businesses, and foster a vibrant and sustainable economic centre. These are very exciting times for Pontypridd and we look forward very much to seeing the new Sainsbury’s development opening its doors at Brown Lenox.”
Commenting on the visit, Gary Mudge, Sainsbury’s New Store Project Manager, said: “We are on schedule with the building of the new store and are delighted that local representatives could come to site to mark this milestone. We are looking forward to working with the local community and contributing to the town’s regeneration.
“We expect the store to open in July 2012. I would like to reassure the community that we will continue doing our utmost to carry out the store construction and road improvements with as little disruption as possible.”
Once complete the development will provide Pontypridd with:
- A store selling a wide range of quality food products including fresh food counters, a café and also a Sainsbury’s TU clothing range
- Between 300-350 full and part time jobs
- A six-pump petrol station, recycling facilities and cash points
- Car parking for approximately 460 cars including parent and child and disabled bays
- A new access road from the A470 roundabout directly into the site
- Enhanced pedestrian and bus links to the town
During construction, Sainsbury’s contractors will be working to a strict code of practice, ensuring disruption is kept to a minimum at all times.
Martyn Osborne, Kier Operations Director added: “With the steel framework going up it is now possible to get a real sense of what the building will look like. As well as working hard on the construction, the team at Kier has been building relationships with the local community. We have already welcomed two groups of students from Pontypridd High School to the site with more to follow and we are developing a programme of classroom lectures with Coleg Morgannwg on a range of construction topics. As the project moves forward next year we are looking forward to developing these relationships further.”
