Dated office block to become affordable flats with rooftop garden
Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter
A dated former government office block is set to be transformed into affordable flats complete with a rooftop garden, with work expected to begin within weeks.
The five-storey Crown Buildings in Llanelli will be converted into 27 flats under plans by Hacer Developments, with construction expected to take around 15 months.
The redevelopment will include planting on the roof and elsewhere around the building, as well as solar panels and other low-carbon energy systems. Its exterior will also be modernised.
The company behind it, Hacer Developments, is completing a larger scheme in Swansea’s Oxford Street consisting of a 12-storey tower, 50 flats, a four-storey greenhouse, rooftop gardens, commercial and education space, and a landscaped courtyard. Part of it is replacing the former Woolworths store.
Carwyn Davies, Hacer Developments’ managing director, said this “biophilic” – roughly translating as people’s drive to connect with nature – design was a key element for the Llanelli and Swansea projects.
“This one in Llanelli will be our first spin-off project,” he said. “I think it’s got great regeneration and community potential. We’re quite excited to roll out the concept.”
Mr Davies said reusing rather than knocking down buildings boosted a development’s environmental credentials because existing materials like concrete, which takes a lot of energy to make, were retained. “We’ve got to start thinking about that,” he said.
Crown Buildings used to be a Department for Work and Pensions office. “It’s well-built with a concrete frame – why would you want to destroy that?” said Mr Davies.
A smaller empty adjacent building will, however, be demolished and a car park created.
Mr Davies said a binding agreement called a Section 106 agreement between Hacer Developmnents and Carmarthenshire Council, which has given planning permission with conditions, has been finalised.
“We are hoping to start work in the next one to two months,” he said. “A new market is planned in the town centre and the council has done up the [former] YMCA building. We’re probably the first private sector people coming in.”
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