RCT Council is progressing plans for the redevelopment of a vacant building in Porth town centre, removing a notable eyesore and providing crucial opportunities for local businesses.
The premises, 38 Hannah Street, Porth, has been vacant for a number of years. Its dilapidated and uninhabitable condition has meant that it has been a notable eyesore on the street and requires complete refurbishment to enable occupation and use.
The project of circa £200,000, part-funded by the Welsh Government’s Placemaking Grant – which is managed by the Council, will involve a complete refurbishment of the premises to enable it to be used as a shared office working hub.
The main focus of the project is to provide a modern and flexible space with a variety of different types of workspaces that will appeal to a range of users. It is intended to be a place that individuals will want to use as a place of work and will have good technology features, including high speed internet, large presentation screens and meeting rooms.
The target users for the hub include individuals, business start-ups, small business and employees of larger organisations. The intent is to support the objectives of the Remote Working Wales Strategy and to complement the wider Porth Town Centre Strategy.
The benefits include allowing people to have work facilities nearer to where they live, providing an alternative work location space for those who are unable to work at home, and also attract people to the town centre.
Councillor Robert Bevan, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “The Council is once again demonstrating its proactive approach to targeting investment to improve our town centres, where possible, with the redevelopment of 38 Hannah Street in Porth utilising grant funding from the Welsh Government.
“This redevelopment project will have the double-benefit of removing a notable eyesore from the town centre landscape, whilst at the same time providing an invaluable business accommodation in the heart of the town centre.
“New ways of working have been accelerated by the pandemic, with many residents now working from home. We realise that not all employees have this opportunity or capability, so it is vital that there are attractive and fit-for-purpose alternatives in the heart of our communities to provide the option of working as close to home as possible.
“We have already seen a number of successful projects being progressed by the Council, including the redevelopment of the former Mountain Ash Town Hall which again made use of external funding from the Welsh Government.
“I look forward to seeing this important project progressing over the coming months and featuring as yet another benefit for the Porth area by forming part of the wider Porth Town Centre Strategy.”
