This Newsletter has been funded through the Welsh Assembly Government’s Heads of the Valleys Programme.

Bargoed Town Centre News Spring 2011

Cllr Lindsay Whittle and Cllr Ron Davies, together with Chief Executive of CCBC, Anthony O’Sullivan.

A momentous 300 jobs

to come to Bargoed!
The final piece of the jigsaw for the major retail and leisure development
planned for Bargoed is now in place, with the announcement that the national
supermarket chain Morrisons have formally signed up to build a brand new
56,000 sq ft store on the prestigious 2.2 hectare development site.
 
Cllr Ron Davies, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning said,
“I am delighted that Morrisons has agreed to join us in bringing this
long-awaited scheme to the town’s residents.”

visit our website: www.bargoedsbigidea.co.uk

Economic Development Unit
He continued, “A lot of hard work has been
going on over recent months to ensure our
ambitious proposals are able to become
a reality, and I look forward to seeing this
major retail and leisure development,
which we anticipate will bring in the region
of 300 much needed jobs to the area,
come to fruition and help bring about the
regeneration of Bargoed town centre.”
 
The development company Simons and the
Welsh Assembly Government have been
key components in bringing this project
to fruition. Simons in responding to the
announcement indicated their delight that
Morrisons have exchanged contracts for a
new 56,000 sq ft supermarket as part of the
Retail Plateau development in Bargoed.
 
Philip Hodgkinson, Deputy Chairman of
Simons commented, “We are delighted that
a company of the calibre of Morrisons has
made such a commitment to the town of
Bargoed. This represents a significant
milestone in the delivery of this important
regeneration project, and we look forward to
working with both Morrisons and Caerphilly
County Borough Council on
the detail of the project with
the objective of commencing
construction later this year.”
visit our website:
www.bargoedsbigidea.co.uk
Cllr Lindsay Whittle, Leader of the Council
said, “The future is most certainly looking
bright for Bargoed’s Big Idea. The bold
ambition is definitely becoming a reality.
This development will be a welcome boost
for Bargoed, and I am delighted that such
a well known retailer is fully behind the
scheme, which will bring a whole host of
economic benefits for the town and its
surrounding areas.”
 
The developer, Simons, is expected to
submit a planning application to the council
before the end of March. The authority’s
Planning Committee will then consider this
detailed application, shortly afterwards.
 
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s
Cabinet also recently agreed to the second
phase of negotiations and key agreements
are being developed that will help bring the
second phase of this exciting development
to fruition.
 
Proposed developments on the plateau
New lease of life for former Woolworths site
Bargoed town centre has received more
good news with an announcement that the
old Woolworths store is to be occupied by
a major national retailer. A lease has now
been signed by The Original Factory Shop
to take over the building and an extensive
re-fit is currently taking place within the store.
Cllr Ron Davies, welcomed the news, “The
decision by the Original Factory Shop to invest
in the town is fantastic news and demonstrates
a new found confidence in Bargoed.”
“The building enjoys a key location within
the town centre and will also benefit from
the new bus station development and the
new pedestrian link being created in close
proximity to the site,” added Cllr Davies.
www.bargoedsbigidea.co.uk
The premises, which boasts the largest
retail floor space in the town, was purchased
by the council using Heads of the Valleys
funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.
The ongoing regeneration of Bargoed town
centre is a key priority for Caerphilly County
Borough Council.
The Original Factory Shop has stores
nationwide offering a wide range of
merchandise - ladieswear, menswear,
kidswear, sportswear, electricals, housewares,
toys, beauty and fragrance - all discounted.
Most of the products sold
by the firm are either
branded or originally
made for other high street
stores and supermarkets.
visit our website:
 In Brief… Hanbury Road Baptist Chapel
Bargoed has
welcomed a number The conversion of this historic chapel into the town’s library and
of new businesses: learning hub continues at a pace. The rear extension has been
Dippy Hippy: removed and the historic interior is now flooded with natural
52 High Street, light. Foundations have been laid for the new rear extension,
Quirky and unusual and the structural steel frame is currently being erected. Go to
retro clothing & gifts www.bargoedsbigidea.co.uk for a virtual tour to see what the
new extension will look like.
Happy Nails:
36 Upper High Street,
Bargoed businessman Neil Carter, financial director of Carter
Health and beauty
Lauren Construction, successfully tendered to carry out the
Past & Present: conversion. At the lower Sunday School level, structural steel
3 Cardiff Road, has been used to form a mezzanine floor and stairs for the
Antiques and future reference library. At the level of the main worship space,
collectables significant damp and infestation problems have been remedied.
Fabulash: At gallery level, a new floor has been formed and under-floor
15 High Street, heating is currently being installed.
Health and beauty
The magnificent existing frontage on Hanbury Road, which is
Comfort Zone: Listed, has been cleaned and extensive repairs and renovation
25 High Street, works are being undertaken. In the recent public consultation there
Furniture & Soft were proposals to enhance the building’s new role by maximising
furnishings the pavement width outside and creating a small public square
Woodburning through the introduction of granite sets into the carriageway.
Stove Centre:
United Welsh
23 Hanbury Road
Housing
Complements the
Fireside Coffee Association,
Lounge next door who own the
building, have
Sugar and Spice: brought the
50 Hanbury Road,
scheme to
Miscellaneous gifts
fruition through
Congratulations to the help and
Ty Marisa Café support of the
who are celebrating Welsh Assembly
50 years of trading Government
in Bargoed.
and CADW.

visit our website:

www.bargoedsbigidea.co.uk
Transport Hub
Work on the relocation of the bus station to the northern end of
the town and the creation of a pedestrian linkage from the newly
created Transport Hub to the High Street are well advanced.

The Park and Ride facility has already proved to be very

successful. The new bus interchange will consist of 5 bays
and will include taxi drop off, additional parking
and public conveniences.
Public Toilets

Hanbury Square
Locating the Bus station from Hanbury Square to create a fully integrated Transport Hub
has presented the opportunity to transform the square into a new open civic space. New
proposals were revealed at the Public Consultation held earlier this year
to realign the road around the square. These new designs will maximise
the usable space at street level and will present the opportunity
for street markets, events and the development of a cafe culture.

Hanbury Square proposals

visit our website:
www.bargoedsbigidea.co.uk
 Supported by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Heads
of the Valleys Programme, Caerphilly County Borough
Council and European Convergence Funding.

New look for Bargoed

In order to minimise disruption to
the traders and public, the town
centre works have been divided Phase 1: Phase 2: Phase 3: Phase 4:
into four phases that will be Bus Station, Town Centre Public Town Centre Public Town Centre Public Realm
implemented over a three-year Toilet Block and Realm Scheme - Realm Scheme - Scheme - Hanbury Road
period (2010 - 2013). Work has Punch through High Street North Hanbury Square (High Street South)
already commenced on the first
phase - the new bus station.The
second phase - High Street and
Upper High Street will commence
in early Summer 2011. Hanbury Square High Street South High Street North
January 2012 - June 2012 June 2012 - December 2012 June 2011 - December 2011
The introduction of a one-way
system along the principal
shopping streets will allow for
pavements to be widened, new
civic spaces to be created and
a comprehensive improvement
made to the public realm.
View the virtual tour on
www.bargoedsbigidea.co.uk

£8.3m was secured from the

European Regional Development
Fund as well as Targeted Match
Funding through the Welsh
Assembly Government to fund
these proposals. Funding has
also been obtained through
WAG’s Transport Grant and
Heads of the Valleys programme Bus Station & Punch Through
as well as funding from Caerphilly September 2010 - April 2011
County Borough Council.

visit our website: visit our website:

www.bargoedsbigidea.co.uk www.bargoedsbigidea.co.uk