Project Overview

Location – Newtown, Powys
Client – Open Newtown
Value – £1m+
Completion – August 2022

Hafan Yr Afon has provided Newtown with a new landmark to support tourism, social enterprises, and health and wellbeing whilst being an exemplar for sustainable design and construction.

The former Radio Hafren building was demolished and a new two-storey low energy venue has taken its place. Community amenities were designed around a public consultation campaign to ensure the space would provide the best value for the community. This included meeting rooms, a café, tourist information, a play park and a base for outdoor activities.

A cost-saving of 40% was saved from the original tender price with some areas omitted (to be included when funding allowed), whilst also delivering the same high-quality standards expected within a high-profile landmark for the area. The building has transformed the local area, providing a hub for the community to get together, to learn, and to have a base for outdoor activities. We delivered the best value solution for Open Newtown, whilst still maintaining the vision they originally planned.

More than 90 per cent of sub contractors and suppliers who worked on Hafan Yr Afon came from within a 20-mile radius of Newtown, providing a valuable boost to the Mid Wales economy and supporting jobs in the area. We also delivered a number of other community benefits, including training and apprenticeships opportunities on site and sponsorship and practical support for organisations in the area.

First Minister Mark Drakeford visited the community hub ahead of its official opening in August and commented that “This is a superb addition to the community that will not only benefit local residents but also attract visitors into the town. Not only is it an important asset for Newtown, the sustainable building methods and materials used means it will have a lower carbon footprint and impact on environment than a normal building.”

We are very proud of the fact that this project won the the Building Project of the Year 2023 in the Constructing Excellence Wales Awards, in addition to being shortlisted for the Value Award too.