Questions remain unanswered over the £41m revamp of the former Debenhams store in Carmarthen, which has been empty since 2021. The building, located in St Catherine's Walk shopping centre, is being converted into a hub by Carmarthenshire Council in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board.
The former Debenhams store opened in 2010 as the flagship of a new shopping centre designed to make Carmarthen a key retail destination in west Wales. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and changing shopping habits led to the closure of nearby stores including River Island, Fat Face, Topshop, Topman, and H&M. Debenhams announced it was going into liquidation in late 2020, and the Carmarthen store closed in May 2021.
What the Atriwm hub will include
The new facility, named Atriwm, will deliver health, wellbeing, learning, and cultural services under one roof. Plans include soft play equipment, indoor adventure golf, a TAG active arena, a small electric go-karting track, and a cafe. A 24-hour gym with spin and activity studios is also planned, alongside health treatment rooms including dental space.
Health board services will include community and children's nursing teams, children and young people's therapies, dental, sexual health, phlebotomy, podiatry, and mental health services. The hub is expected to open next year.
Funding and transparency concerns
The £41m cost is funded by the UK Government (£20.19m), the council (£11.458m), the Welsh Government (£9.045m), and partner contributions of just over £309,000. WalesOnline submitted a freedom of information request to Carmarthenshire Council asking for a breakdown of the spending, but the request was refused.
The council said that disclosure could prejudice the commercial interests of the council and its contractors, revealing commercially sensitive pricing, procurement, and supply chain information. The refusal notice acknowledged a strong public interest in transparency but said the council's commercial interests and the interests of the taxpayer outweighed it.
Public reaction and council defence
When WalesOnline shared news of the development and images of progress inside the building, many people reacted negatively. One person said, "41 miliion? Someone saw them coming," while another called it "Carmarthen's very own Willy Wonka Experience." One woman compared the quality to TV's Changing Rooms, saying the council should aim for a standard similar to the new Hollywood Bowl facility in Cardiff St David's 2.
Some raised concerns about business rates, with one man saying, "Wouldn't it be nice if they built something that actually created some wealth instead of all these white elephants!" Others were more positive, with one person saying, "Excellent news. I can’t understand why anyone should be negative about this wide ranging facility."
According to the council, the £41m cost covers internal and external works, including professional fees, to create more than 6,500m2 of new floorspace. Deputy leader councillor Hazel Evans defended the revamp, saying it will "play a significant role" in regenerating Carmarthen by increasing footfall and supporting local businesses.
Evans said Atriwm will offer community dentistry, children's therapies, phlebotomy, sexual and reproductive health services, diabetic eye screening, mental health services, community nursing, and occupational therapy. It will also include a 24-hour fitness facility and leisure attractions suitable for all ages.
During the construction phase, 91% of the supply chain spend, worth nearly £24m, has been with Welsh-based subcontractors, with nearly £12m within the SA postcode area. This has led to 31 apprenticeships and 21 new entrant jobs, while a schools engagement programme has provided almost 1,900 interactions with local pupils.
