Member Article

Much-needed area office increases investment in Denbigh town to £15.2m

Staff, Board Members and other stakeholders came together to celebrate the latest investment by Grŵp Cynefin in Denbigh town centre.

They attended a ceremony to mark the official opening of the housing association’s replacement area office, Tŷ John Glyn, on Vale Street.

It marked the completion of a £3m investment and the securing of 80 jobs in the heart of the town.

Grŵp Cynefin decided to invest and locate itself in the centre of Denbigh, rather than in an out-of-town location so that it could continue to provide its services in the town. The decision also ensures that its staff continue to support local shops and services.

Tŷ John Glyn is the third major development in the town by Grŵp Cynefin.

It is also investing £10m on 70 extra care apartments at the site of the former Middle Lane School, and recently built the £2.2m HWB Dinbych, Smithfield Road, to provide education and employment opportunities for young people and support services for other residents of the Denbigh area.

The three-storey area office has been designed to reach BREEAM ‘excellent’ standard, which assesses the use of building materials and energy and water usage to ensure the building is environmentally sustainable.

Grŵp Cynefin’s Business Services Director, Bryn Ellis, said: “This is a substantial investment and a conscious decision to support Denbigh town centre. Even though it would have been easier to go to a business park, we’re keeping jobs in the town centre, and providing services to customers where they want them locally.

“Staff have waited for a long time for this replacement office building. It’s great for staff to have a modern and comfortable working environment.

“The office has modern and convenient meeting rooms where tenants can meet staff in private and additional facilities for both internal and external meetings. Grŵp Cynefin has invested for the future.”

The development has been named after the late John Glyn Jones, one of Wales’ most prominent housing sector champions.

A native of Denbigh, he had been the first employee, going on to become the chief executive, of Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, which later merged with Tai Eryri to become Grŵp Cynefin.

Creu Architects of Denbigh designed the building, which was constructed by R L Davies of Colwyn Bay.

Previously, Grŵp Cynefin staff had been located in two separate offices around Denbigh. Tŷ John Glyn is one of four area offices for Grŵp Cynefin, with others located at Penygroes and Bala in Gwynedd, and Llangefni on Anglesey.

Manon Glyn, John Glyn Jones’ daughter, who attended the opening, said on behalf of the family: “It’s a privilege and an honour to be here with the family to mark this special milestone with the team at Grŵp Cynefin.

“Dad was proud of what Tai Clwyd had achieved over the years, and he would be the first to emphasise the huge contribution each worker made to foster support for Tai Clwyd in those very early days in that small office room at the top of town.

“He would have been even more pleased to know that Grŵp Cynefin has managed to keep the new office not only in Denbigh, but in the town centre amidst the local people and its businesses.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .