Author: Rhys Gregory

A Denbighshire-based construction firm has been awarded a duo of design and build contracts totalling more than £20million by North Wales’ largest housing association. Wynne Construction began building a new 47-home social housing complex on Berse Road, Wrexham, in March following its appointment from Adra. With a scheduled completion date of autumn 2026, the £9million development will consist of apartments and a mixture of two, three, and four-bedroom homes that are available to rent. The contractor is also set to build 49 social houses on Abergele Road, Bodelwyddan, a stone’s throw away from its headquarters. Work is expected to start…

Principality Building Society, Wales’ largest, announces relocation from its long-standing Kingsway branch to a central location on Oxford St. This move marks a significant milestone in the branch’s history, reflecting Principality’s continued commitment to maintain its high street and community presence until at least the end of 2030 – recognising the importance of access to cash and in-person services for its Members. Work on the new location has been underway for several months, with the aim of creating a modern, welcoming space that enhances Members’ experience while remaining true to Principality’s long-standing heritage – especially fitting as the building society…

A man has been jailed after biting his adult son and striking him with his walking stick following a family meal. 58-year-old Anthony O’Connell, of no fixed abode, was involved in the domestic incident in May 2024. Just a few weeks later, he would commit a further offence of robbery, for which he was handed a seven-year extended sentence. After pleading guilty to ABH against his son, he has now been sentenced to two years and four months in prison, to be served concurrently with his extended sentence. Sergeant Kelly Richards said: “Anthony O’Connell’s offending was frequent and will have…

Christopher Burden from Trowbridge, Cardiff, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for child sex offences. The 35-year-old was sentenced at Merthyr Crown Court on May 28, 2025. Detective Constable Simon Hicks from South Wales Police said:“I want to commend the victims for their courage in coming forward. “It has been a traumatic time for everyone involved and I am hopeful the outcome at court brings the victims and their families some comfort which they deserve.” Burden had denied the offences but was found guilty of rape of a boy and multiple offences of sexual assault of a boy…

Newport City Council is planning to invest £6.6m into the city’s road network over the next 12 months. The investment will support a major road maintenance programme, focusing on the city’s most critical and highest-priority roads. These include roads such as Malpas Road, Newport Bridge, Lighthouse Road, Chepstow Road and Caerleon Road. The council has secured just over £4.4m from Welsh government to help finance the programme, through the government’s new highway management local government borrowing initiative. The council will also be allocating around £2.2m of its own resources to the programme. This includes £1m from underspend from the previous…

Construction has officially commenced on the new £38 million Caerphilly Leisure and Wellbeing Hub, with Alliance Leisure and Morgan Sindall assuming responsibility for the site on Friday 6th June 2025. Situated close to Caerphilly Business Park and public transport links, this state-of-the-art facility is set to transform a disused area into a modern, inclusive space that promotes healthier, more active lifestyles for residents across the county borough. Delivered by Caerphilly County Borough Council as part of its ongoing place shaping programme, the development also supports the wider Caerphilly Town 2035 regeneration vision. The two-storey hub will feature a leisure swimming…

A county council by-election will be contested in Llanidloes next month, Powys County Council has confirmed. The contested by-election is taking place to fill the county council vacancy following resignation of Gareth Morgain in May. The election will take place on Thursday, 3 July, 2025. There are six candidates standing in the county council by-election. They are: David Dennis Campbell (Independent) Phylip Rhys Davies (Welsh Conservative Party) Trudy Davies (Welsh Labour) Victoria Louise Evans (Plaid Cymru) Fleur Frantz-Morgans (Welsh Liberal Democrats) Graham Maurice Jones (Reform UK) Anyone who isn’t registered to vote have until Tuesday, 17 June, 2025 in order…

Coastal communities across Wales will receive continued support as the Welsh Government extends its successful Coastal Capacity Building Scheme for two more years. The scheme, delivered through the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), will provide £260,000 per year from 2025/26 to 2026/27 to support local environmental initiatives. Since launching in October 2023, the scheme has backed eleven projects that help people connect with their coastal environment and understand how they can make positive impacts on nature. Projects have focused on strengthening partnerships between communities, businesses, local authorities and other public bodies to deliver sustainable action in marine and coastal…

A teacher with a mission to increase opportunities to learn through the medium of Welsh has enlisted Business Wales support to launch a private tutoring company, dedicated to providing tailored academic support to Welsh-speaking learners. Recognising that local demand for tutoring delivered in Welsh outweighed existing provisions, Dafydd Jones, from Hawarden, Flintshire, founded Tiwtora ATOM in January 2024, offering personalised tutoring in maths, science, and biology, for Welsh-speaking learners. Qualified teacher, Dafydd, turned to Business Wales for vital support in structuring and launching his venture that directly aligned with the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 goal to support and facilitate a…

Local events across Wales offer more than just entertainment and community spirit, they provide powerful platforms for business growth. From village fêtes and farmers’ markets to regional trade shows and cultural festivals, these gatherings create unique opportunities for Welsh enterprises to connect with customers face-to-face. The impact goes further than immediate sales, building lasting relationships that sustain local economies. For small and medium businesses in Welsh communities, these events represent a chance to showcase their products and services in memorable ways. One way businesses can do this is by thoughtfully incorporating branded merchandise that reflects both their brand values and…