Latest news with #AmbitionNorthWales
North Wales Live
28-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Hotel development, tourism attraction and port plan are all chasing £51m cash pot for North Wales
A hotel plan, tourism development, and port revamp are part of a 20 strong group of schemes chasing £51m. Ambition North Wales has announced a strong pipeline of new projects, which are being given the opportunity to bid for part of un-allocated Growth Deal funding in the future. The move aims to accelerate regional growth through the delivery of sustainable economic projects across North Wales, which will generate jobs and align with environmental commitments. Each potential new project, 16 confirmed - with a 17th subject to confirmation on scope, has been placed on a Reserve List (full list below). The projects must now produce Business Cases in order to secure part of the funding – which will be considered in terms of their impact for the region and how quickly they can move into delivery. The Reserve List has been drawn up following a review of its own Growth Deal projects by Ambition North Wales – freeing up an initial £51m of funding, and a subsequent expression of interest process. Ambition North Wales partners, Welsh Government and UK Government were invited to put forward their priority public and private sector proposals for consideration. The funding released by Ambition North Wales, following its portfolio review, was possible given its decision to withdraw two of its Growth Deal projects altogether, while moving three on to the new Reserve List - bringing the total number of schemes on the list to 20. Cllr Mark Pritchard, Chair, Ambition North Wales: 'Our name says it all – we have great ambitions for North Wales and we want to deliver faster and smarter for the region. This new Reserve List contains projects with the potential to do just that – as they should be in a position to produce Business Cases over the coming 12-18 months with a view to moving swiftly into delivery, should approval be given. The result will improve the pace of delivery of sustainable economic growth across the region.' The North Wales Growth Deal is a £240m cash pot backed by joint funding from Welsh and UK governments aimed at driving economic growth. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: 'We welcome the work undertaken by Ambition North Wales to review existing projects and identify a pipeline of potential new proposals. This provides an opportunity to take stock of progress to date and unlock new opportunities, maximising the potential to invest in transformational developments that can swiftly deliver sustainable growth and jobs across the region. We look forward to seeing this work progress over the coming months.' Wales Office Minister Dame Nia Griffith said: 'It's great to see a strong reserve list of projects come forward for investment. 'The purpose of UK Government's funding of Ambition North Wales is to deliver economic growth to the region and create well-paid jobs that will put more money in people's pockets. It's important that successful projects help us to deliver on that commitment.' Full list of projects: Adventure Parc Snowdonia Deliver a significant new visitor experience on the site of the former Adventure Parc Snowdonia facility. Albert Gubay Business School Construction of the Albert Gubay Business School at Bangor University. Bangor Health Hub To develop an integrated Health and Wellbeing Hub in a vacant former shopping centre in the heart of Bangor city centre. Business Gateway Serving as a bridge between Wrexham University and local industry, fostering collaboration, innovation, job creation and inclusive economic growth. Innovation and Growth Fund To support North Wales businesses in agri-food, tourism, and high-value manufacturing to boost innovation, adopt new tech, and grow regional competitiveness. Kinmel Studios A project to support the film industry in North Wales. NEW-H2 This project will help kick-start the hydrogen economy in North Wales by supporting and delivering a hydrogen hub to include the supply and use of hydrogen. North Anglesey Sites and Premises Delivering 2,200sqm of business space in North Anglesey creating at least 59 jobs, and leveraging the Freeport and low-carbon energy growth. Parc Bryn Cegin - Phase 2 The delivery of a further 20,000 sq ft of employment units at Parc Bryn Cegin. Peboc Gateway Sites Unlocking 6,750sqm of business space in Llangefni, creating at least 186 jobs and maximising benefits of the Anglesey Freeport. Port of Mostyn Upgrading berth and regeneration of former industrial site. Project Prince Construction of 110kt rock mineral wool plant with submerged arc furnace (SAF), primarily to serve the UK and Ireland markets. Property Fund A Commercial Property Development Grant to close viability gaps for private sector developers of industrial and office property, with funding also available for similar public sector developments on a Joint Venture Agreement basis. Quarry Battery A £300m Pumped Storage Hydro / BESS Hybrid scheme in North Wales. Queens Market Hotel Development Provision of mid-range, mid size hotel - a key part of a wider masterplan that is currently being developed for the area. Society 5.0 - Manufacturing and Capability Project Enhance the Enterprise Engineering and Optics Centre to enable industry to access further world- class high precision engineering resources. St Asaph Business Park - Move on Accommodation Development of high-tech industrial units on St Asaph Business Park. Trawsfynydd A scheme which will include a building to include office spaces, laboratory spaces (exact specification to be confirmed) and ancillary facilities (meeting space, café/canteen etc), to support the nuclear and low carbon energy industry together with the scientific community, located on Trawsfynydd Site. Venue Cymru A project that will expand facilities at Venue Cymru, boost jobs, cut carbon, and attract major shows, conferences, and cultural investment.
Wales Online
28-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Hotel development, tourism attraction and port plan are all chasing £51m cash pot for North Wales
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A hotel plan, tourism development, and port revamp are part of a 20 strong group of schemes chasing £51m. Ambition North Wales has announced a strong pipeline of new projects, which are being given the opportunity to bid for part of un-allocated Growth Deal funding in the future. The move aims to accelerate regional growth through the delivery of sustainable economic projects across North Wales, which will generate jobs and align with environmental commitments. Each potential new project, 16 confirmed - with a 17th subject to confirmation on scope, has been placed on a Reserve List (full list below). The projects must now produce Business Cases in order to secure part of the funding – which will be considered in terms of their impact for the region and how quickly they can move into delivery. The Reserve List has been drawn up following a review of its own Growth Deal projects by Ambition North Wales – freeing up an initial £51m of funding, and a subsequent expression of interest process. Ambition North Wales partners, Welsh Government and UK Government were invited to put forward their priority public and private sector proposals for consideration. The funding released by Ambition North Wales, following its portfolio review, was possible given its decision to withdraw two of its Growth Deal projects altogether, while moving three on to the new Reserve List - bringing the total number of schemes on the list to 20. Cllr Mark Pritchard, Chair, Ambition North Wales: 'Our name says it all – we have great ambitions for North Wales and we want to deliver faster and smarter for the region. This new Reserve List contains projects with the potential to do just that – as they should be in a position to produce Business Cases over the coming 12-18 months with a view to moving swiftly into delivery, should approval be given. The result will improve the pace of delivery of sustainable economic growth across the region.' The North Wales Growth Deal is a £240m cash pot backed by joint funding from Welsh and UK governments aimed at driving economic growth. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: 'We welcome the work undertaken by Ambition North Wales to review existing projects and identify a pipeline of potential new proposals. This provides an opportunity to take stock of progress to date and unlock new opportunities, maximising the potential to invest in transformational developments that can swiftly deliver sustainable growth and jobs across the region. We look forward to seeing this work progress over the coming months.' Wales Office Minister Dame Nia Griffith said: 'It's great to see a strong reserve list of projects come forward for investment. 'The purpose of UK Government's funding of Ambition North Wales is to deliver economic growth to the region and create well-paid jobs that will put more money in people's pockets. It's important that successful projects help us to deliver on that commitment.' Full list of projects: Adventure Parc Snowdonia Deliver a significant new visitor experience on the site of the former Adventure Parc Snowdonia facility. Albert Gubay Business School Construction of the Albert Gubay Business School at Bangor University. Bangor Health Hub To develop an integrated Health and Wellbeing Hub in a vacant former shopping centre in the heart of Bangor city centre. Business Gateway Serving as a bridge between Wrexham University and local industry, fostering collaboration, innovation, job creation and inclusive economic growth. Innovation and Growth Fund To support North Wales businesses in agri-food, tourism, and high-value manufacturing to boost innovation, adopt new tech, and grow regional competitiveness. Kinmel Studios A project to support the film industry in North Wales. NEW-H2 This project will help kick-start the hydrogen economy in North Wales by supporting and delivering a hydrogen hub to include the supply and use of hydrogen. North Anglesey Sites and Premises Delivering 2,200sqm of business space in North Anglesey creating at least 59 jobs, and leveraging the Freeport and low-carbon energy growth. Parc Bryn Cegin - Phase 2 The delivery of a further 20,000 sq ft of employment units at Parc Bryn Cegin. Peboc Gateway Sites Unlocking 6,750sqm of business space in Llangefni, creating at least 186 jobs and maximising benefits of the Anglesey Freeport. Port of Mostyn Upgrading berth and regeneration of former industrial site. Project Prince Construction of 110kt rock mineral wool plant with submerged arc furnace (SAF), primarily to serve the UK and Ireland markets. Property Fund A Commercial Property Development Grant to close viability gaps for private sector developers of industrial and office property, with funding also available for similar public sector developments on a Joint Venture Agreement basis. Quarry Battery A £300m Pumped Storage Hydro / BESS Hybrid scheme in North Wales. Queens Market Hotel Development Provision of mid-range, mid size hotel - a key part of a wider masterplan that is currently being developed for the area. Society 5.0 - Manufacturing and Capability Project Enhance the Enterprise Engineering and Optics Centre to enable industry to access further world- class high precision engineering resources. St Asaph Business Park - Move on Accommodation Development of high-tech industrial units on St Asaph Business Park. Trawsfynydd A scheme which will include a building to include office spaces, laboratory spaces (exact specification to be confirmed) and ancillary facilities (meeting space, café/canteen etc), to support the nuclear and low carbon energy industry together with the scientific community, located on Trawsfynydd Site. Venue Cymru A project that will expand facilities at Venue Cymru, boost jobs, cut carbon, and attract major shows, conferences, and cultural investment. Wrexham Gateway To address viability and support delivery of the evolving Wrexham Gateway project.
Business News Wales
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Let's Work Together to Take North Wales' Strengths to the World
Artificial intelligence is already transforming economies around the world – and in North Wales, we have real potential to be part of that story. But to do so, we need to stop being inward looking and start making the case for what this region has to offer. In many ways, we're in a strong position. We have a growing cluster of advanced manufacturing businesses in the northeast, a major opportunity around low-carbon energy, and strong digital infrastructure that is in many cases better than what's on offer in London or the Southeast. We also have a growing base of entrepreneurs, researchers and start-ups, particularly in and around places like MSParc. What we've lacked until now is a collective plan for taking those strengths out to the world. Too often, investors only hear about us if they are already connected to government or are on a formal scouting mission. That's not enough. There are many more businesses, investors and collaborators out there who would be interested in what North Wales has to offer – if only they knew about it. That's why I believe we need to develop a joint approach. A plan that brings together Ambition North Wales, the Welsh Government, the UK Government and others to set out clearly what our proposition is, and how we are going to take that to market. This is not just about attracting investment. It's also about creating the right conditions for local businesses to thrive, and for talented people to stay and build careers in the region. We know there is a risk of brain drain – we've already seen people drawn elsewhere for work. But if we create the right opportunities here, there is every chance we can retain that talent and attract more. Being outward looking also means learning from elsewhere. During a visit to MIT in Boston some years ago, I was struck by the way academic research, entrepreneurship and commercial investment all existed side by side. That kind of integration is something we should aspire to. Of course, we can't do everything at once. But we can be clear on what we want to be known for. For me, high-value manufacturing and low-carbon energy are two obvious areas of strength, and with the right infrastructure and support, we can build globally significant clusters in both. We also need to back the organisations that help bring the ecosystem together. From spin-out support to mentoring, from skills development to investor engagement, this is not a job for any one organisation alone. But if we work together, we can make real progress. So the message is clear. North Wales has the right ingredients. Now it's time to tell that story to the world – and to back it up with action.
North Wales Chronicle
10-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Morlais scheme highlights expansion at national conference
Ambition North Wales welcomed the recognition given to its Cydnerth project at the Marine Energy Wales conference. The project is an investment in the Morlais tidal energy scheme, which is run by social enterprise Menter Môn. It forms part of the North Wales Growth Deal and aims to support the expansion of Morlais, which is located off the northwest coast of Ynys Cybi (Holy Island), Anglesey. (Image: Supplied) The project will deliver benefits such as driving economic growth, creating high-quality jobs, and ensuring North Wales is a key player in the future of tidal energy and the generation of clean electricity. The First Minister, Eluned Morgan, said: "I'm pleased to announce that Ambition North Wales and Menter Môn Morlais have agreed funding terms in principle for the Cydnerth project. "This £8.9 million investment through the North Wales Growth Deal, which is funded by the Welsh and UK Governments, will futureproof Morlais. "The North Wales Growth Deal investment will now enable the scheme's 18 megawatts grid capacity to increase over time to 240 megawatts." The Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, also backed the project saying: "The UK Government is supportive of the Morlais project, which promises to harness tidal energy and generate high-quality jobs in our coastal communities. "As part of our clean energy mission, we have increased the tidal stream ringfenced budget by 50 per cent which will maximise the opportunities for tidal energy in North Wales and drive economic growth." (Image: Supplied) Councillor Mark Pritchard, chair of Ambition North Wales and leader of Wrexham County Borough Council, said: "The significance of Cydnerth can't be understated. "As the largest consented tidal scheme in Europe, the positive impact and benefits it will bring are substantial, and it will cement our region's place as a leader in tidal energy." Councillor Gary Pritchard, lead member for Ambition North Wales' Low Carbon Energy Programme and leader of Isle of Anglesey County Council, said: "Cydnerth is very positive news for the marine energy sector in Wales and reinforces our region's commitment to a sustainable future – creating the right kind of jobs alongside environmental benefits." Dafydd Gruffydd, managing director of Menter Môn, said: "We are grateful to Ambition North Wales for their investment and continued support through the Cydnerth project. "Through this support from the North Wales Growth Deal we can now take the next step in expanding the Morlais tidal energy scheme, bringing benefits to our communities, creating local jobs, local supply chain opportunities and contributing to the region's sustainable growth."
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fears for wildlife after road scheme plan revived
A plan for a controversial road scheme which was scrapped by the Welsh government two years ago is being revived. The "red route", a new eight mile dual carriageway linking the A55 at Northop, Flintshire with the A494 and A550, was previously identified as the preferred option for relieving cross border congestion, but was one of the major building projects dropped in 2023 over environmental concerns. Now, a review of the route is part of the proposed Regional Transport Plan for North Wales which looks at ways of boosting the region's economy. Wildlife campaigners say they are "disappointed" with the revived plan. New £250m road backed for Flintshire More evidence sought on petition to scrap new road All major road building projects in Wales scrapped The 112 page consultation document by Ambition North Wales considers various forms of transport, including rail, road, bus, walking and cycling. It highlights the A494/A55 Flintshire corridor as one of its "priority routes" and includes the previously identified "red route" as one of the schemes for a rethink. But the suggestion the road could once again be considered has "shocked" campaigners who are concerned about the potential effects on wildlife habitats. The North Wales Wildlife Trust said that the original proposal for the road had been deemed "unsustainable, unjustifiable, and damaging" by the Welsh Government's Roads Review Panel and that it was "disappointed" to see it reappear in the new draft plan. A spokesperson said: "This 13km highway destroy ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows and centuries-old hedgerows, while endangering species such as otters, bats, barn owls, and badgers. These irreplaceable wildlife habitats must be protected." It is now urging people to get behind their campaign to tell Ambition North Wales that the red route is "still the wrong choice". In the consultation document, Ambition North Wales says the aim is to "provide residents and visitors with more travel choices and better digital connectivity, while also reducing our environmental impact." It is also proposing the case for a third Menai crossing between Anglesey and the mainland should be progressed, an idea that was also shelved two years ago, as well as improvements to the A483 in Wrexham. The draft North Wales Regional Transport Plan is open for consultation until 14 April.
