Plaid Cymru MP for Arfon, Hywel Williams has welcomed news that a specialist commercial developer has expressed interest in the empty Parc Bryn Cegin on the outskirts of Bangor, with plans to transform the site into a leisure complex, potentially creating around 400 new jobs.
Liberty Properties, whose projects include Llandudno Junction Leisure Park and the Ystwyth Retail Park in Aberystwyth have submitted a proposal to transform the ninety acre empty industrial site into a multi-use leisure complex with facilities including a 40,000 square foot cinema (either Cineworld or Odeon) and a number of food outlet.
Parc Bryn Cegin was established by the Welsh Government over ten years ago with the intention of providing hundreds of local jobs. Repeated calls have been made by Plaid Cymru, local residents and councillors who were concerned about the lack of progress in the site.
Hywel Williams MP said: “After years of hard campaigning to develop the empty Parc Bryn Cegin site, I welcome the interest shown by Liberty Properties to possibly develop the park for leisure purposes, with the potential to create hundreds of new jobs for the local area.
“Over the past year I’ve had several meetings with businesses interested in relocating to Parc Bryn Cegin. The local community have all backed the campaign to develop the site and realise its potential.
“Plaid Cymru lobbied the Welsh Labour Government to find a new partner to promote the site to potential investors after years of dragging their feet. The infrastructure to support any development at the site is already in place, with excellent access to the A55.
“The ideal solution would be a multi-use site with an emphasis on recruiting local people from Bangor and neighbouring communities.
“I look forward to looking in detail at these exciting proposals and hope to see a collaborative effort to develop Parc Bryn Cegin for the benefit of the City of Bangor and the local community.”
Local Plaid Cymru Councillor Dafydd Meurig added: “I’m pleased we have at last concrete plans for Parc Bryn Cegin after years of being empty. Local members and officers have been working hard behind the scenes for many years to seek a potential developer.
“The next step is for the developers to meet with Gwynedd Council planning officers to discuss the plans in more detail.”
