Indoor adventure golf, a TAG active arena, a small electric go-karting track and a cafe are being installed inside the former Debenhams store in Carmarthen as part of a £41m transformation. The new-look venue, known as Atriwm, is expected to be ready early next year.
What's inside the new Atriwm building
Soft play equipment has been installed on one floor alongside the adventure golf and go-karting areas. A 24-hour gym with spin and activity studios is also in the works, while a range of health treatment rooms are taking shape, including dental space.
Health and social care trainers will have a viewing room to observe trainees in a life-like hospital ward on one side and a kitchen and living room interior on the other.
Council says investment is worth it
Carmarthenshire Council, which is behind the project, said it anticipated an early 2027 completion date. Councillor Hazel Evans, whose cabinet portfolio includes regeneration, said: "It's going to be amazing."
Asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) if she thought the investment would be worth it, she was unequivocal: "When you consider what will happen here and what footfall it will draw into the town, it is a long-term investment and worth it. There's nothing worse than a redundant building."
Who will use the building
Atriwm will be occupied by Hywel Dda University Health Board, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and the council, which will move its customer service hub there and run the gym and children's activity area. Health board services will include community and children's nursing teams, children and young people's therapies, and dental, sexual health, phlebotomy, podiatry and mental health services.
Health board director of strategy and planning Lee Davies said bringing together many services in one building was a step forward in community care. He said: "This integrated approach will make it easier for people to receive the support they need, enhance outcomes, and help our population lead healthier lives."
A UWTSD spokeswoman said Atriwm will support delivery of its BSc sports and exercise therapy programme. She said: "The space will provide an additional teaching facility that gives students access to a modern clinical environment closer to service users." Around 20 students and five members of staff will use the space, she said, with a focus on clinical education, injury rehabilitation and supporting community health and well-being.
Funding and construction history
The council bought the building after Debenhams' high street business went into administration. The purchase was funded as part of a successful bid by the Plaid-Independent-led authority in 2021 for UK Government funding under the old Levelling Up Fund. A redevelopment scheme was approved the following January, a construction contract was awarded in 2023, and work began in 2024.
The rising cost along with delays have been criticised by the council's opposition Labour group, with one councillor calling for an inquiry earlier this year after previously unidentified structural issues were found. Some wall façades are being rebuilt as a result of these defects and new wall ties inserted.
The council was initially awarded £19.6 million Levelling Up Fund money based on what it said was a conceptual design in 2021. As time progressed, it said, a "significantly enhanced scheme" including additional healthcare provision and an activity centre along with the remediated structural issues had increased the project's scope and complexity - all this on top of UK-wide building sector inflation.
The council estimates the remedial works will cost £4.2 million and said the original independent building survey hadn't identified any significant structural issues apart from the roof. Although the building only opened in 2010 the council said this was a recognised risk associated with converting large buildings and not uncommon in projects of this sort.
Solar array and funding breakdown
A new roof has been installed on which sits a 63-panel solar array and rows of mechanical and electrical plant machinery. Additional grant funding has been secured, and the council expects maintenance costs will be covered by a tenant service charge.
The £41 million project is being funded by the UK Government (£20.19 million), council (£11.458 million), Welsh Government (£9.045 million), and partner contributions of just over £309,000.
The council said principal contractor Bouygues UK has subcontracted packages of work meaning the majority of the workforce has been local. A total of 31 apprentices have been involved and 21 "new entrant" jobs created, along with engagement with local schools.
The council described the Atriwm project as larger and more ambitious than at the outset, with greater benefits expected for the local economy. In a "frequently asked questions" page, it said: "While challenges have emerged during delivery, the objective remains to create a major town centre asset that will service communities across Carmarthenshire for decades to come."
