A major social housing development in Wrexham could provide a £50 million plus boost to the local economy.
Award-winning builders Anwyl Construction have started work on building 127 homes, with a further 20 awaiting planning, on two sites in the town for top social housing organisation Wales & West Housing, in partnership with Wrexham Council.
The developments at Rivulet Road and Kingsmills Road are worth a total of £15 million and Anwyl Construction Director Tom Anwyl said: “In all 80 per cent of that cost will go on wages and with 80 per cent of the workforce involved from within ten miles of Wrexham it’s a massive boost for the local economy.
“We estimate that will mean over £10 million injected into the economy and it is accepted every £1 will be spent locally five times so that adds up to more than £50 million being spent on goods and services in the area.
“In addition there is the added boost to employment and to training because both Wales & West Housing and Anwyls are keen to see the sub-contractors we use take on apprentices from the area.”
Councillor Mark Pritchard, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Planning, said: “Congratulations must go to Wales & West Housing and Anwyl Construction who are helping local businesses, providing jobs for local people and giving a huge boost to the local economy by their working practices.”
The developments in Wrexham will see them building on two sites, at Rivulet Road where more than 35 houses and apartments will be built while a further 92 houses and apartments will be developed on Kingsmills Road. The scheme will be completed with a new community resource centre and clinic, which is expected to be finished in 18 months.
Craig Sparrow, Development Manager North for Wales & West Housing, added: “We’re delighted to see these figures. Wales & West Housing and Anwyls are committed to maximising opportunities to increase local employment and training during development, as well as using local supply chains, which has provided a real boost to the local economy.
“When finished, this exciting project will provide much needed good quality, affordable homes and a new Community Resource Centre, helping to support a sustainable community in Wrexham.”
Currently working on the Kingsmills Road site is groundworks contractor Drumreed, from New Broughton, Wrexham, and director Phil Roberts, who runs the family business with his brother, Emlyn, said: “We’ve been going for 28 years but if we hadn’t had this work we’d have been laying men off.
“It’s the biggest part of our work at the moment so it has been very important for us.
“We’ve done work for Anwyls for a number of years now and we always try to use other local suppliers ourselves to make sure they benefit too.”
Andrew Evans, General Manager of Jones Roofing, with bases in Wrexham and Colwyn Bay, said: “This is a great job to have and it has meant we’ve been able to keep staff on.
“It’s money in the pockets of Wrexham lads and it’s good to see two such major building projects going ahead in the town which seems to be a hive of industry at the moment.
“The Wales & West developments are probably the biggest in North Wales at the moment.”
Anwyl’s Construction Manager Iain Murray said: “We have employed a range of sub-contractors after holding a Meet The Contractor event last June.
“We are a North Wales company with an established trade base in Wrexham where we have been building for more than 15 years and we have now expanded that trade base.
“We have a core base of contractors and the volume of work has meant more opportunities for local workers and businesses to come on board.”
Already eight apprentices have been taken on by bricklaying sub-contractor Alan Davies and Sons, of Gresford, with four of them coming from Yale College’s Faculty of Construction and Engineering.
Faculty Director Graham Evans said: “We’re delighted that four of our students have been taken on and we hope that as the job progresses we will also see opportunities for apprentice joiners, plasterers, electricians and plumbers.”
To keep up to date with the latest on the developments, find out about upcoming opportunities and to have your say go to www.hightownflats.com
