Eyesore Building In Llanelli Could Be Redeveloped

One of Llanelli Town Centre’s biggest eyesore building could be demolished and re-built within months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Developers plan to redevelop the former Raffles Nightclub in Murray St into a mixture of high quality residential and commercial lets set over five floors – to be known as Cwrt Dilwyn in a £1.8 million investment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

EON Investment Ltd secured the existing lease and is currently working with Carmarthenshire County Council, which has the freehold on the property, to negotiate a longer term agreement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new owners plan to invest over a million pounds in Cwrt Dilwyn after securing a £750,000 loan, subject to various conditions, through the Welsh Government Town Centre Loans Fund, administered by Carmarthenshire County Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Detailed drawings are being prepared with a view to submitting a formal planning application shortly. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bringing empty shops and buildings back into use is one of the key priorities set out by the Llanelli Town Centre Taskforce, led by Cllr Emlyn Dole, Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Taskforce aims to stimulate growth and investment by supporting traders, boosting business and increasing footfall. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Dole said: “This would be a huge boost for Llanelli Town Centre and its regeneration plans. Bringing more units back into use was one of my main priorities when I launched the Llanelli Town Centre Taskforce and this is a perfect example of how we can work well in partnership with private investors to breathe new life into parts of the town. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I was pleased to meet the developer on site, and to hear the plans for the redevelopment of the former Raffles nightclub. A large sum of money would be invested to bring this vacant and dilapidated building back into use, subject to planning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These are ambitious and exciting plans that complement what the council is doing in the town centre. Hopefully this will kick-start further regeneration of this area of town.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

EON Investment Ltd director, Michael Isaac said: “The Directors of EON Investments have been extremely impressed by the council’s commitment to the continuing regeneration of Llanelli Town Centre; the quality and vision apparent in the Eastgate development; and the encouragement and assistance provided to further potential investment. The enthusiasm and skills of the Economic Development Division have been crucial to EON’s own commitment, and it is believed that clearance of the derelict, former Raffles Nightclub in Murray Street, and replacement by an iconic new building, will further stimulate economic growth within the town.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s executive board member for regeneration, Cllr Meryl Gravell added: “I’m delighted that EON Investment Ltd is planning to redevelop a key building in Llanelli Town Centre. It is vital that the council works in partnership with the private sector to enable positive regeneration of the local and regional economy.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​