Legal & General has announced the start of construction of the new DWP Hub in Treforest with a ground breaking ceremony attended by members of the development team and existing tenants.
The Treforest Hub is part of the Government’s wider plans to build strong civil servant bases across the UK and will transform the Government’s estate by accommodating workforces in new, purpose-built buildings delivering the tax payer significant savings whilst also providing first class work environments for staff, directly improving their wellbeing. The new 133,000 sq ft building is due for completion in the last quarter of 2020.
The project has been designed by CWA Architects and will be built by BECT Construction, creating over 400 construction jobs. When complete, the new building will be home to more than 1,700 public servants and provide circa 133,000 sq ft of space together with 252 parking spaces and 170 bike parking spaces. The Hub has also been designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.
The development is being funded by Legal & General and delivered by local property development company Rightacres, in partnership with Cardiff Council.
Martin Brown, DWP Director of Planning said: “This is a very significant development for DWP as we continue to modernise and transform our services. The new site will create a more efficient and flexible working environment, from which we will deliver a wide range of vital services to people in Wales and beyond.
“The development will house around 1,700 staff, bringing together talented employees under one roof, where the scale of operations is such that staff have the opportunity to develop and progress both within DWP and within the wider Civil Service in South Wales.”
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said: “This is another positive economic boost for Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) and once again demonstrates the ability RCT has in attracting investment as a result of its pivotal location at the heart of the Cardiff City Deal region. The wider Pontypridd and Treforest area has been identified as a Strategic Opportunity Area by Cabinet Members, with its potential for economic growth and job creation.
“The Council has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to make this decision a reality. We were keen to ensure these public sector jobs were located in the Valleys and not centralised in Cardiff and we will continue to collaborate to ensure that the positive economic impact brought about by the establishment of these DWP functions are realised.”
Tom Roberts, Head of Strategic Investment and Regeneration at LGIM Real Assets said: “We believe that this latest investment in Wales will make a meaningful impact to the area’s regeneration, helping to create social and economic growth. At Legal & General, we are committed to improving our built environment, investing in projects across the UK to bring about developments that are fit for purpose and create better places to live and work.”
Hayley Rees, Head of Direct Investment at Legal & General Retirement Institutional, said: “The long term funding of this BREEAM Excellent office development is a clear indication of our commitment to invest in infrastructure around the UK. We can benefit communities and provide access to local jobs by real asset investments. These investments support the payment of our members’ pensions – as well as contributing to the wider UK economy.”
Paul McCarthy Chief Executive of Rightacres said: “This is another huge investment by the UK Government in Wales and Rightacres is committed to maximising local procurement and employment to reflect this. We have targeted spending 80% of the construction budget within a 20 mile radius of the site. We have also committed to creating 20 full time construction apprenticeships.”