Cooke & Arkwright
News
Developers sought for Bargoed’s Big Idea
20/09/07
Plans for a strategic £25 million retail and leisure complex will be a key part of a regeneration strategy for Bargoed town centre. Far-reaching proposals for a six acre retail and leisure complex have been drawn up to include a 60,000 sq ft food store, a 20,000 sq ft cinema and leisure complex and 46,000 sq ft of shops. Caerphilly County Borough Council and the Welsh Assembly Government are forming a joint venture to secure the development and have instructed agents Cooke & Arkwright to attract a private sector partner to develop the site.
The project is seen as a strategically important development that will provide the impetus for the future regeneration of the entire town centre – and set new standards of design quality and sustainability.
The Assembly Government’s Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews said today that the Bargoed project exemplified the Head of the Valleys Initiative and would stimulate wider regeneration, boost economic growth and improve the quality of life for local people.
“This project will set a benchmark for future developments in the area and the Assembly Government and Caerphilly Council will be looking for imaginative and innovative proposals from developers. This development provides an opportunity to improve both retail and leisure facilities for residents and is intended to help stimulate further investment and improvement in the town centre. It is a very important opportunity for Bargoed, but it will also deliver significant benefit for the whole of the upper Rhymney Valley.”
The partners will be looking for innovative ideas from potential investors and developers and bids will be judged principally on the quality of the overall design. The site for the new development is currently in the initial stages of construction. A development plateau is being created using surplus soil from a previous land reclamation scheme in Aberbargoed.
A Greater Bargoed Regeneration Project is already well under way and includes a £20m plus new road scheme named Angel Way, which will improve transport links in the upper Rhymney Valley and provide access to the retail/leisure development site.
William Lloyd Davies of Cooke & Arkwright said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for a developer to transform the newly created site with an exciting mixed use scheme on the edge of an established town centre.” 
Town Planning and Urban Design Consultants Barton Willmore have drawn up a brief for the site on behalf of the Council and the Welsh Assembly Government, which will be available, along with detailed technical information, to guide the prospective developers.
The Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr Harry Andrews commented, “We are delighted that Bargoed’s far reaching regeneration plan - ‘Bargoed’s Big Idea’, is well under way and anticipate that the retail/leisure complex will be the centrepiece of the town’s transformation. The regeneration of Bargoed will attract new investment into the area and play a major contribution in making the Upper Rhymney Valley a vibrant place live, work and visit.”
The Council and the Welsh Assembly Government hope to appoint a developer early next year, ahead of the anticipated completion of preparations of the site by the Autumn of 2008.
“There has already been considerable interest in the site from major retailers,” said Mr Lloyd Davies.
Prospective developers should contact Cooke & Arkwright’s Cardiff office for further information. Tel 029 20 346346 email