Author: Rhys Gregory

A pioneering architect is hoping to revolutionise the housing market with an innovative building block scheme inspired by LEGO. Alwyn Rowlands has been using the iconic plastic bricks to illustrate his concept of “stacking” rooms into different configurations to create anything from a one-bedroom apartment to a four-bedroom family house. The 48-year-old who runs Creu Architecture is targeting the social housing market initially with his venture, Creu Cartref (creating a home) in a bid to slash building times as well as making properties more energy efficient. The modular design approach means that homes can be built in situ using traditional materials…

A £3 million development of 18 apartments will help tackle the dire shortage of housing in Rhyl, say a housing association. The Tŷ Dyffryn scheme by Cartrefi Conwy has breathed new life into the derelict site of a former dairy in Victoria Road that was demolished to make way for the gleaming new four-storey building. Construction work is nearing completion and priority will be given to local people in most need when it comes to allocating the tenancies. David Kelsall, Cartrefi’s Assistant Director of Development, said: “It is a landmark building on a tight, complex brownfield site, which is going…

Multiple births, a short interval between pregnancies and mothers with a maternal physical or mental health condition are more at risk of having a low birth rate baby according to Swansea University researchers. Every year 20 million children are born with a birth weight below 2,500 grams, and considered low birthweight (LBW) babies  The study, by researchers at the National Centre for Population Health and Wellbeing Research, looked to understand the risk factors for LBW so that resources and interventions could be scheduled effectively. The cohort study comprised 693,377 children born in Wales between 1st January 1998 and 31st December…

Wales Week London, the largest annual programme of events celebrating and promoting Wales, kicks off this weekend, for its seventh successive year. Running for two weeks until Sunday 5th March, Wales Week London will deliver a schedule of nearly 100 activities and events around the period of St David’s Day; together helping to celebrate Wales’ heritage and culture, commemorating its national day, and promoting a modern Wales to the rest of the world. 2023’s programme includes events covering business, social enterprise, start-ups, innovation and finance, tech, architecture, art, music and song, screen, language, government, sport, food and drink, celebrity interviews,…

A giant mural of Betty Campbell MBE is taking shape atMount Stuart Primary School in Butetown, after children from the school wanted to honour Wales’s first black headteacher. Betty became headteacher at Mount Stuart Primary School in the 1970’s and pioneered the teaching of black history and culture at her school, which she put on the school’s curriculum decades before black history is set to be taught in all Welsh schools. The new mural pays tribute to her life and is a reminder of her legacy. MsShubnamAziz, teacher at the school, said: “The pupils are very proud of Betty Campbell, she…

Investment in brand new buildings for primary schools in Pontyclun, Church Village and Llantrisant is now underway, and the Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Education have visited each site to celebrate the start of works. Councillor Andrew Morgan and Councillor Rhys Lewis visited pupils, staff and the construction teams at Pontyclun Primary, Llanilltud Faerdref Primary and Penygawsi Primary on Wednesday, February 8. The appointed contractor Morgan Sindall started construction work at the three sites through December and January, and works are now well underway. The new buildings are planned to open in 2024 and 2025. Each project secured planning…

The mobile accessory and repair shop in Caerphilly, Mobile Solutions, who were previously located in the indoor market, have now moved to new premises at Market Cross Kiosk, Castle Court Shopping Centre, with the help of funding provided to Caerphilly County Borough Council by the UK Government. Mobile Solutions has received £30,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. These grants were dedicated towards Mobile Solutions through Caerphilly County Borough Council’s intervention of UKSPF funds. This has helped the business to move into the new premises as well as get fixtures and fittings to refurbish the shop,…

To celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight 2023 and St David’s Day, the Great Welshcake Off will be held at Bedwellty House in Blaenau Gwent. The council is looking for the most delicious, the biggest and the most fun Welshcakes that have ever been baked and the only rule is that they must contain at least one Fairtrade ingredient. Entrants of all ages are invited to be creative and adventurous as there are lots of different classes to capture your imagination, originality and baking talent. Your Welshcakes can be any shape, any flavour and any size with the best in show being…

As part of the Council’s current consultation on the redevelopment of St Tydfil Shopping Centre (ST2) and wider Town Centre Masterplan, the council are looking at making changes to the available car parking. Following representation from local businesses, Council officers reviewed how the town centre car parks are operating, and decided they needed to change to benefit the local economy. “We found that there was enough parking capacity, but those ones most convenient for town centre shopping trips were full throughout the day with long-stay users,” said Council Leader Cllr Geraint Thomas. “So to assist town centre businesses, we’re proposing…

A task force that will tackle child poverty in Powys has held its first ever conference. The Child Poverty Task Force Conference was hosted by Powys County Council in Llandrindod Wells last week (Wednesday, February 8). During the conference, attendees heard about the work of the Child Poverty Task Force, which was formed last July. Since its formation, the task force has been mapping the support that is currently being provided to families across the county by the council and its partners and address any gaps that are found. The task force has also co-produced its Child Poverty Task Force…