The Project will refurbish and remodel the town’s ‘Community Hub’ to create dedicated space for ‘co-working’ and enterprise.
Existing use as a library and community facility will remain, but the project will allow the buidling to provide flexible and affordable support for small businesses and lone workers.
The changing nature of work patterns, from traditional office based accommodation to more flexible work environments, is driving increased demand for shared service, coworking, accommodation.
This rise in popularity reflects advances in communication and technology and comes at a time when the UK’s digital and creative sector is growing rapidly – resulting in an increased demand for spaces.
South Wales has been highlighted as hosting one of the fastest growing tech clusters in the UK, with Monmouthshire being named as the lead rural digital county in the Cardiff capital region.
A co-working space, close to a key town centre, will provide the opportunity for small business startups to collaborate, network and do business – providing a springboard for future take up of other office space in the town and nearby.
This proposal involves:
- Refurbishment of the external façade of the building with high quality materials – timber glass and natural stone. Including the removal of brick panels to improve natural lighting
- Creation of a new entrance into the Community Hub from the town centre side
- Remodelling of the internal layout and underutilised storage rooms to provide dedicated Enterprise areas within the Community Hub
- Improved accessibility to the building, daytime and evening through the use of access control systems for registered enterprise users
Project Status:
- Nov 18 – ‘Approval in principle’ of concept from Welsh Government
- May 19 – Planning permission obtained
- August 19 – Tenders issued
- Sept 19 – Full application to Welsh Government to commence the project to be submitted following Tender conclusion. Subject to approval, works are programmed to commence Sep/Oct 19 and complete by Dec 19.
