£30m retail centre in Bargoed moves closer

Apr 3 2008 by Wendy Horton, South Wales Echo

LONG-AWAITED plans to transform a South Wales town with a £30m development have moved a step closer.

Leading national developer ASM Properties Ltd has been announced as the ‘preferred developer’ to take forward innovative plans to create a high quality retail and leisure complex in Bargoed town centre.

The complex will be created on a 2.2-hectare plateau currently under construction at the rear of Hanbury Road  and is part of a joint venture between Caerphilly County Council and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Asda will anchor the development with a large store complemented by restaurants and a dozen shop units.

There will also be a five-screen multiplex cinema which will be the first in Caerphilly County and in a town which saw its last cinema close more than quarter of a century ago.

The local authority’s chief executive Stuart Rosser said: “Bargoed is experiencing an exciting transformation at the moment and it will soon enjoy the many benefits of these major investment proposals.”

Leighton Andrews, deputy minister for regeneration, said the proposed development would effectively transform the town.

He said: “This is an imaginative and innovative proposal and will have far reaching benefits for the entire Rhymney Valley. It will create a dynamic and sustainable retail and leisure quarter that will revitalise the town centre and attract new investment to the area.

“The regeneration of Bargoed is a key project within the Heads of the Valleys initiative, which is funding improvements in major towns throughout the region.”

Construction of the ‘Angel Way’ road scheme is also well under way.

This single carriageway road will greatly improve the highway network between the communities of Bargoed, Aberbargoed, Gilfach and Pengam and will also provide direct access into the new shopping development.

wendy.horton@mediawales.co.uk