Author: Rhys Gregory

The recently established Savills Economics team in Wales is expanding with the appointment of two economists, both with senior international insight and experience. Daniel Vargas, a Cardiff resident, originally from Peru, holds an Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Bristol. A former economic analyst with the Ministry of Production of Peru, his recent experience includes economic impact analysis of science investments for UK Research and Innovation. Prior to this, Daniel was an economist for Wavehill, an economics consulting agency based in England and Wales. His expertise includes SME policy, financial inclusion, policy evaluation and innovation topics and he…

A living wall has recently been erected on the Rhyl City Strategy (RCS) Hub building on the corner of Wellington Road and Elwy Street. Denbighshire County Council has been working with Rhyl City Strategy in Rhyl to secure a living wall to the exterior wall of the building. The development includes twelve metres square of vertical planting in a modular system, has an irrigation system which will provide water and feed to the plants automatically.  A tank beneath the living wall will also allow for the water to be recycled. This project supports the delivery of the Councils wider Rhyl…

Forest Feastival has announced its full line up for its forthcoming events in September. The street food festival returns to its unique location – in a woodland, by a castle, near the sea – at Merthyr Mawr for four weekends, starting on Friday 2nd September. The line up includes a chance for diners to eat dishes from chefs who are new to street food and some making a welcome return after opening bricks and mortar restaurants. Visitors will be able to eat dishes from two restaurant menus before they’ve even opened – Tukka Tuk Canteen and Rock & Scallop -…

Leicester’s Curve theatre and Birmingham Hippodrome have announced the cast of their co-production of acclaimed musical The Color Purple, which will visit Wales Millennium Centre this October while on tour for the first time. Leading the company as the downtrodden but full-hearted heroine Celie is Me’sha Bryan, whose previous roles have included Romantics Anonymous (Bristol Old Vic), Caroline, or Change (The Playhouse Theatre) and The Lion King (UK tour). The role of glamorous singer Shug Avery will be played by Bree Smith (The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre), Aaliyah Zhané (The Comedy of Errors, Mercury Theatre) joins as Celie’s sister Nettie, Harpo…

Dozens of employers and local organisations will be attending the upcoming Bridgend Jobs Fair to offer a whole host of exciting new job vacancies. The free event will return this year to the Bowls Hall at Bridgend Life Centre, Angel Street (CF31 4AH) on Thursday 15 September between 9.30am and 2.30pm. Organised by the council’s Employability Bridgend team in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, both organisations will be on hand to offer advice and support on a range of work, training, and volunteering opportunities. This year, the Jobs Fair will also include a new Training Zone, which will feature various providers…

One of the most innovative housing developments in Cardiff is nearing completion on the site of the former Eastern High School in Rumney. On an elevated site with spectacular views over the Bristol Channel to the south and the Brecon Beacons to the north, the new Aspen Grove development will see more than 200 low carbon homes completed in phases before the summer of 2024. Built through the Cardiff Living programme, a development partnership between Cardiff Council and Wates Residential, the scheme has benefited from more than £4m of Welsh Government Innovative Housing Programme (IHP) funding that will help to…

Pembrokeshire County Council has achieved the prestigious Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award for 2022. The Authority is among 21 organisations in Wales to have achieved the Ministry of Defence award. The accolade recognises employers who have actively demonstrated their support for the Armed Forces community through implementing practical policies in the workplace. Chief Executive Will Bramble said: “Pembrokeshire County Council are utterly committed to supporting those in the Armed Forces Community.  “As the largest employer in Pembrokeshire and with our historical and ongoing links with 14 Signal Regiment based here in the County, we acknowledge our unique position to make a difference.…

Exciting proposals to transform the old Co-op site in Tonypandy are now approved by Welsh Government – as RHA Housing aims to revitalise the site through a £13m mixed-use development, supported by the Council. The Big Shed scheme will bring the site at Dunraven Street back into use, after it has remained empty for around a decade since the closure of the Co-op store in 2012. RHA Wales acquired the derelict property in 2019 and has since been putting plans in place for its regeneration – to improve the area and provide the community with a vibrant town centre location…

Work to construct a storm water pumping station to alleviate flooding on the A44 in Penybont, mid Powys, is finished ahead of schedule. Completed with a grant from the Welsh Government Resilient Roads Fund, the main purpose of the works was to prevent major routes, such as the A44, from flooding so often during storms. The existing highways drainage system will continue to work in normal weather conditions. However, in storm conditions and when the river is high an automatic sensor will close the valve to the river and direct the water into the newly constructed pumping station which is…

A new Natural Resources Wales report highlights how action to restore the degraded peatland of Wales accelerated at record pace during 2021/22 – even surpassing expectations. Wales’ peatlands – also attractively known as bogs, mires or moors – are an unlikely hero whose health is essential for our water security, as we prepare for a future of hotter summers and wetter winters under climate change. The report says the Welsh Government annual target to restore 650 hectares of peatland was surpassed by restoration action on over 1000 hectares, the equivalent of 1400 football pitches. Given that 70% of UK’s drinking water…