The Cardiff-based office of Willmott Dixon which delivered Wales’ best commercial building in 2017 are bringing their award winning building skills to Pontypridd.

Willmott Dixon saw its One Central Square scheme for Rightacres declared the Best Commercial Building at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) 2017 Wales Awards. The same scheme was also named best commercial workspace in South Wales by the British Council for Offices.

Now Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to deliver another commercial project, the £38m Taff Vale redevelopment. This comprises of two new office blocks and a striking gateway building incorporating a 21st century library, council customer contact point, cafe, community facilities and new leisure and fitness centre.

Regenerating a former shopping precinct, the scheme will rejuvenate the area further by reopening the river edge with an attractive riverside promenade. It will deliver substantial economic benefits that place Pontypridd as a strategically important town in the region by providing 14,693sqm of office space for over 1,000 people.

The office buildings will feature curtain walling, with the third employing a distinctive zinc cladding tile system. In addition to the principal buildings, the project also includes public realm and highway work, as well as basement parking and bike stands.

Enabling works started in early 2018, with the company about to commence construction of the new buildings. This is the latest scheme for Willmott Dixon delivered under the SEWCSAP framework.

Neal Stephens, managing director of Willmott Dixon in Wales and the West, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed for this flagship project for Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council as this will be a catalyst to further revitalise the strategically important town of Pontypridd. Together we’ll create an exciting new chapter for Pontypridd’s future.”

“We will also support the Council’s vision to inject new prosperity into the region by using local businesses whenever possible during the build programme; we want to leave a lasting legacy that we will all be proud of.”

Councillor Robert Bevan, Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Housing:

“This project is a catalyst for the continuingly successful regeneration of Pontypridd and once complete will help to drive further regeneration across the entire region. Pontypridd and the wider area is a key strategic location in the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and this flagship project highlights our ambitions as a Council to spread prosperity, create jobs and regenerate all areas of our County Borough.”

It’s the latest in a series of mixed-use developments Willmott Dixon are behind that are transforming town centres. In February, it secured a contract to build the £80 million Rochdale Riverside for a joint venture between Genr8 and Kajima in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council.