Bouygues UK has handed over Canolfan Pentre Awel, marking the completion of its work on the innovative, multi-million-pound development at Delta Lakes site on the Llanelli coastline.

During the two-year build on Zone 1 of the project, which brings together life science, business innovation, community healthcare and modern leisure facilities at the 83-acre site, Bouygues UK achieved net zero in site activities as well as delivering over £35 million in social value through its employment, education, supply chain and community engagement.

As Carmarthenshire County Council’s largest-ever project, backed by major investment from the Swansea Bay City Deal, Bouygues UK, who partnered with BDP landscape architects, Curtins engineers, Powell Dobson architects and Hoare Lea on the build, was committed to creating a landmark development built around strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) values.

The lead contractor worked with sub-contractors and its supply chain during the 24-month build to achieve net zero in site activities. This included over a 90% reduction on direct emissions of all fuels on the site as well as a 10% reduction in waste production, and energy and water consumption.

More than 450 tonnes of carbon emissions were saved thanks to this initiative through implementing carbon-reducing strategies, such as the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) from waste cooking oil, solar-powered site cabins and CCTV, and green materials with high recycled content. Bouygues UK also collaborated with Carmarthenshire-based Gaia to monitor and reduce energy use through AI and sensors, achieving energy savings of 47.9%.

Peter Sharpe, Project Director at Bouygues UK said: “The handover of Zone 1 at Canolfan Pentre Awel marks a significant milestone for everyone involved in this transformative project. I’m incredibly proud of my team who have delivered a facility that will have a lasting impact on the local community, supporting health, wellbeing, learning, and economic growth in Llanelli and beyond.

“It’s been a privilege to work alongside Carmarthenshire County Council and all our partners to bring this ambitious vision to life.”

Social value is at the heart of every Bouygues UK build and the Canolfan Pentre Awel team exceeded its social value goals, delivering more than 5,300 weeks of focused recruitment and training.  The project created 76 new entrant jobs, 67 apprenticeships through local supply chain partnerships, and ten additional apprentices joined Cyfle’s Shared Apprenticeship Scheme via Whitehead Building Services. It also set up an employment hub, in partnership with Acorn by Synergie, running 15 sessions and helping 36 people into work.

Led by social value advisor Nina Williams, Bouygues UK also delivered more than 100 hours of educational activities, engaging over 2,000 students. A highlight was the Pentre Awel design challenge, shortlisted at the 2024 Welsh STEM Awards, which saw 50 learners mentored over 70 hours on a real-life project to design a fit-out for a vacant floor of the building.

Nina Williams said: “Social value is embedded into every project we deliver at Bouygues UK. Our commitment to creating lasting impact means prioritising local employment, skills development, and community engagement. Through strong collaboration with our supply chain and local partners, we surpassed our goals here at Canolfan Pentre Awel and we hope we’ve left a lasting legacy with the local community here in Carmarthenshire.”

Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Cllr Darren Price commented: “We are incredibly proud to see Canolfan Pentre Awel reach this stage. It’s a project that’s been years in the making and will be a transformational moment not just for Llanelli, but for Carmarthenshire and the wider region. This is a true example of public and private sector collaboration delivering long-term benefits for our communities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank lead contractor Bouygues UK, the local and national supply chain and all those involved for their hard work during the construction of Canolfan Pentre Awel”.

Carmarthenshire County Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans added: “This project has been a major undertaking, and now the vision of Canolfan Pentre Awel is a reality and can be enjoyed by local people. This project has been about creating real, lasting benefits for people in our community, local businesses, young people starting their careers and future generations. Canolfan Pentre Awel stands as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when the private and public sector come together with one shared purpose”.