Residents and visitors to Pontypridd Town Centre may notice works activity within the former Marks and Spencer and Dorothy Perkins buildings from next week, in preparation for the future regeneration of the site.
The future development is a key element of the Pontypridd Regeneration Plan that was approved by Cabinet in June 2022 following positive public feedback. The Plan identifies core ambitions for the town including a ‘Southern Gateway’ that brings several key sites back into use through exciting redevelopments.
Redevelopment of the M&S, Dorothy Perkins and Burtons buildings (97-99a, 100-102 Taff Street) provides an opportunity to open the townscape towards the river with the potential for leisure, commercial and retail use.
Rhomco Consulting Ltd was appointed in 2022 to lead a multi-disciplinary team to progress survey and demolition design work for the M&S/Dorothy Perkins site. It produced a detailed programme which was then reviewed.
Walters Ltd has been appointed as the contractor to demolish the buildings. From Monday, March 27, the contractor will begin on-site preparatory work to enable the buildings to be demolished later this year. A large hoarding will be put in place on the footpath in front of the vacant buildings on Taff Street to secure the site, while the majority of the works will be progressed internally.
Site activity will include disconnecting services, removing internal fixtures and fittings, transporting items off site to be recycled, and segregating waste streams. Security will be present on site outside of the working hours.
Walters will work hard to minimise disruption to the town centre community while undertaking the preparatory works. Local businesses will receive a letter explaining the works in further detail during the week commencing March 20.
Councillor Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity, said: “The former Marks and Spencer and Dorothy Perkins buildings lie on strategic sites in the heart of Pontypridd Town Centre, and their redevelopment is central to our future vision for the area. Around £115m has previously been invested in the Pontypridd Regeneration Framework (2017-2022), which included delivery of the Llys Cadwyn and Cwrt yr Orsaf developments, along with progress towards the Pontypridd YMCA, Muni Arts Centre and Ynysangharad War Memorial Park improvements.
“Last year’s consultation on the wider Pontypridd Regeneration Plan, as well as specific plans for the M&S and Dorothy Perkins/Burtons sites, saw 90% of respondents in favour of opening up the town with a riverside development that includes leisure, commercial and retail opportunities. It is an exciting and ambitious vision to bring an unused site back into use.
“The Council has recently appointed a contractor for the demolition of the buildings at Taff Street, and internal preparatory works will take place from Monday. Town centre visitors will notice a large hoarding being put in place at the front of the site, in preparation for the main demolition phase later this year. Officers will continue to work closely with our contractor to make the relevant progress as quickly and efficiently as possible in the weeks ahead.”
