A major social housing development in Mold is providing a £25 million plus boost to the local economy.
Award-winning builders Anwyl Construction are nearing completion on a project to build a 61-home extra-care complex at Llys Jasmine, in the town for top social housing organisation Wales & West Housing.
The development at Llys Jasmine is worth a total of £8.5 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 Mold it’s a massive boost for the local economy.
“We estimate that will mean over £5 million injected into the economy and it is accepted every £1 will be spent locally five times so that adds up to more than £25 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 have insisted that the sub-contractors we use take on apprentices from the area.
“It’s about creating jobs and skills and making sure we can get local involvement in the construction of what is a major project.”
Anne Hinchey, Chief Executive of Wales & West Housing, said: “We’re delighted to see these figures. Wales & West Housing, Flintshire County Council and Anwyls have all been working incredibly hard to increase local employment and training opportunities via this development, as well as using local supply chains, which has provided a real boost to the local economy.”
Councillor Helen Brown, Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing said: “Extra Care schemes are enabling older people to have a new choice of housing and are making a real difference to people’s lives. We look forward to the opening in a few weeks of this latest scheme in Mold.”
Councillor Christine Jones, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Services, said: “Extra Care schemes are such a wonderful way for our older residents to maintain their independence.
“We already have a successful scheme in Shotton and now we look forward to opening this latest scheme in Mold which will include apartments for older people with dementia.”
Anwyl’s Construction Manager Iain Murray said: “We are a North Wales company with an established trade base in Flintshire 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.”
Anwyls, North Wales’s biggest local housebuilder, have a wealth of experience of major projects and have worked on a series of developments at colleges across North Wales including Glyndwr University, Deeside College, Llandrillo College and Coleg Menai.
The Llys Jasmine project will see Anwyls build 61 apartments for an extra care and dementia complex as well as two extra care bungalows at Llys Jasmine, Mold.
“We are working in partnership with Flintshire County Council to create this fantastic development, which will offer state-of-the-art facilities for older people with care and support needs, as well as those requiring specialist dementia care,” said Craig Sparrow, Development Manager, North Wales, Wales & West Housing.
“Llys Jasmine, WWH’s second extra care scheme, will give residents the opportunity to live independently, albeit within a supported environment where there are dedicated care staff on site 24/7 to look after them.
“It is also very close to the town centre meaning residents will remain very much a part of the wider community. We’re delighted that Anwyl Construction are carrying out this build for us. They have a high reputation for excellence and a wealth of experience of major works like this.”
Tom Anwyl added: “This is a ground breaking project by Wales & West Housing which provides a new kind of extra care provision.
“The accommodation at Llys Jasmine is being built to offer independent living with support facilities available to allow residents to adapt to their changing circumstances.
“There will be numerous shared facilities in the development including a community restaurant, comfortable lounges, multi-function rooms, hairdressing and laundry provision.
“At the heart of the scheme is a sheltered courtyard garden which provides residents with a variety of safe and attractive outdoor spaces to encourage an active lifestyle.
“We are delighted to be working with a partner such as Wales & West Housing and in partnership with architects Ainsley Gommon on such a prestigious project.”
