Cooke & Arkwright

New screening service for Wales

11/06/03

Nearly 4,500 square feet at Fairway Court, Treforest Industrial Estate has been acquired by the National Assembly for Wales for the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales (DRSSW). L & N Property Limited recently completed the 30,000 square feet contemporary office development on the northern fringe of the estate and reports that a further 18,000 square feet is under offer with keen interest being shown in the balance remaining.

Rosemarie Keigwin-Harris, Service Director for the DRSSW, explained that the Health and Social Services Minister, Jane Hutt, officially announced this new and exiting service in July 2002.  The DRSSW is part of a “risk reduction programme” to reduce the number of people at risk of losing their sight due to diabetes related retinopathy. Patients with diabetes will be referred to the service by their General Practitioner.

No 1 Fairway Court will become the Centre of Excellence for the issuing of invitations for screening and the grading of retinal images.  Patients’ retinal images will be captured by trained staff utilising digital cameras, at locations within their community. The service will work in partnership with Ophthalmologists across Wales to secure appropriate treatment pathways for patients.  Professor David Owens CBE, the Clinical Director for the service, is working closely with his clinical colleagues to exploit the benefits of tele-medicine from the Centre of Excellence.

This totally co-ordinated approach to Retinopathy Screening was previously only available to patients within the Bro Taf Health Authority area, with the service located at Llandough Hospital, Penarth.  However, the new service will aim to ensure equal access to all patients with diabetes registered with a Welsh GP. The service expects to complete its move to 1 Fairway Court during the third week of June and is expected to create approximately 20 new jobs locally in the first year.  More jobs will become available across Wales as the service is phased in over the next three years.

Ben Bolton of Cooke & Arkwright, the letting agent for L & N said, said that the open plan design and high level specification meant that the building could be tailored to suit the individual needs of the DRSSW.  Another important consideration was its proximity via the A470 to Cardiff, Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydfil and the M4, providing an ideal location outside Cardiff.

The developer, local firm and family-run business L & N Property Limited, which was set up by Barrie Williams 29 years ago, also owns The Taff Business Centre which comprises 23 units and a restaurant at Treforest Industrial Estate as well as a petrol filling station.

Mr Williams, who is from Efailisaf, originally spotted the opportunity to secure the future interests of his family through property development and the firm has continued to expand its operation at Treforest. “I am happy that we are bringing much needed investment and employment to the area,” he said.

Ben Bolton added: “This latest development provides quality accommodation and generous on-site parking in an attractive riverside setting. Fairway Court is in an Objective 1 Grant Area, has been completed to a high specification and complies with the latest legal requirements for disabled access. Reflecting these standards, the property attracts above average rates for the area and we’ve already had very good levels of interest shown in the development. I expect that all units will be let very shortly.”

Pictured L to r: Nicola Williams of L & N Property Limited (daughter of Barrie Williams), Ben Bolton of Cooke & Arkwright, Rosemarie Keigwin-Harris of the DRSSW

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