Haverfordwest town centre regeneration given multi-million pound funding boost
EXTRA funding has been secured for two regeneration projects in Haverfordwest, and increases in costs will see no additional burden to the council, senior Pembrokeshire councillors heard.
At the April meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council's Cabinet, members received an update on both the budget position and latest funding received for the Heart of Pembrokeshire (HoP) and Western Quayside schemes.
The approved capital budget for delivery of the HoP scheme is £26,277,487, while the Western Quayside scheme approved budget is £11,624,000, a report for members, presented by Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller said.
'Additional external funding has been obtained to undertake green infrastructure works at Western Quayside and to allow the physical linkages between the key town centre locations of Haverfordwest Castle and the town centre, via Castle Square, to be enhanced in order to widen the town centre offer under a discrete Shared Prosperity Fund 2 (2025-26) work package to a value of £1,261,512,' the report said.
An additional £2,700,000 funding for Western Quayside has also been secured through the Transforming Towns Fund, to support the Western Quayside Fit Out and phase 2 elements, including Foundry and Public Realm space.
It also said fundraising consultants were preparing a separate Transforming Towns application for funding for further enhancement to the castle link and town centre wayfinding elements of the HoP scheme and funding to the post-HoP fitout scheme.
This would not increase PCC's capital contribution to either scheme.
It said costs had risen, but would be covered by the extra funding: 'Since the capital bid was approved by Cabinet, a number of variations have been experienced during project delivery.
'Currently, provision is required for £2,224,667 of anticipated costs and risk allowances. This is made up largely of costs associated with the gaol building due to its worse than anticipated condition, and restrictions imposed by archaeology, together with addressing the challenges realised at Castle Back and the associated work to address the safety issues in this area (risk of landslip).
'With regards to Western Quayside, there have been a number of changes to the extent of the works within the public realm and the works associated with the Foundry Warehouse. These changes will bring the foundry building into productive commercial use and fully link the Western Quayside building, foundry building, bridge and Library into a fully integrated public realm.
'Achieving these outputs, compliant with planning consent, has necessitated an increase to the budget of £1,736,845. These costs are fully covered by the recently received uplift to the Welsh Government Transforming Towns grant.'
Members agreed to increase and reallocate the budget associated with the two schemes, to accommodate the additional external grant funding, and also, subject to securing additional external funding, delegate authority to the Director of Resources to increase the HoP and post-HoP fitout project budgets on condition that PCC's contribution does not increase.
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