Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The ambitious Llanelli Goods Shed project has taken another giant step forward. Planning permission and Listed Building Consent has been granted for the Grade II historic building. “It’s another significant move along the tracks for the project,” said the chairman of the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust, Llanelli MP Nia Griffith. “Over the course of the last two years we have been rewarded with more than £100,000 of development cash from different grant funders. “That money has been put to good use and has enabled us to carry out a whole range of site surveys and progress our planning application. “Our architects, Davies Sutton, of Cardiff, are recognised as one of the finest in the UK in the field of renovating historical buildings. “The Goods Shed building in Marsh Street is currently derelict, but Davies Sutton have developed innovative and creative plans to transform a building which was built in 1875 and is a classic example of the Brunel style of architecture.” The Goods Sh...

A Welsh-speaking architectural team has been appointed to work on detailed plans to redevelop Aberystwyth University’s Pantycelyn student hall of residence. The contract has been awarded to Lawray Architects following a competitive tendering process by the University. The company will be responsible for delivering the next stage of the development plans for the £10m project to provide 200 en-suite bedrooms for students and catered provision. Social spaces and facilities which can be used both by students and the local community are also included in the proposals. As part of its contract, Lawray will prepare the application to obtain Listed Building Consent for Pantycelyn which was built in 1953 and is Grade II listed. The work carried out by Lawray Architects will allow the University to progress to submitting and receiving planning permission and to have a detailed specification which can be used to go out to tender for the contractor(s) to undertake the work in Pantycelyn. Acting...

The award-winning Llanelli-based firm of architects, the Lewis Partnership, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. And the firm, which already operates throughout South Wales, is looking for further expansion in its anniversary year. “This is a wonderful milestone for us here at the Lewis Partnership,” said managing director Philip Lewis (pictured above), the son of company founder Wynford Lewis. “We pride ourselves on being a business where quality counts. That philosophy has stood us in good stead for the last 20 years – and we sincerely hope it will continue to do so for the next 20. “Our roots are very firmly here in Llanelli, but our portfolio of work extends over a far wider area - South, West and Mid Wales, with many of our projects located in Pembrokeshire, Swansea, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys.” The Lewis Partnership currently has eight staff (2 Architects, 3 technologists and 3 administrators) based in Park Crescent near Llanelli Leisure Centre. Mr Lewis...

The South Wales Evening Post newspaper asked the award-winning Lewis Architects to give their views on the conversion and renovation of chapels and churches. To put it in context, the Post were running a special ‘planning focus’ feature on the issue. The comments were used in the following story. See link to the story on the South Wales Evening Post website - http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/FEATURE-Historic-church-buildings-changed-homes/story-20767161-detail/story.html Obviously, for editorial purposes, a few words were edited out of our submitted comments. The full Lewis Partnership statement for the newspaper is below - Philip Lewis, seated, managing director of the Lewis Partnership, and Wynford Lewis, chairman of the Lewis Partnership. Award-winning architects the Lewis Partnership know all about the challenges of converting and renovating chapels and churches. “It’s a task which requires a high degree of sensitivity and a great deal of imagination,” said Philip...

Philip Lewis, managing director of the award-winning architectural firm the Lewis Partnership, of South Wales, said - “Cooperation and partnerships are the words which crop up again and again as we look forward to 2013. Increasingly, we are finding benefits from partnerships and alliances with construction firms and consultancies. “There is a big drive to produce eco-friendly, sustainable and environmentally-friendly buildings. If you can show evidence that you can work in tandem with other businesses to produce such buildings then your chances of securing more work are greatly improved. “We are now finding that local authorities are building up alliances which offer greater economy of scale and value for money for the taxpayer. “For example, the Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea City councils are forging their own new framework organisation to pick key contractors. “Securing places on local authority frameworks can be crucial. Investment in the right management an...

Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership Ltd are playing a key role in the restoration of one of Llanelli’s most historic landmarks. Llanelli Town Hall is being refurbished and upgraded by Carmarthenshire Council. “As one of Llanelli’s favourite buildings, it is in need of some TLC, some tender, loving care,” said the Lewis Partnership Ltd’s managing director Philip Lewis. “As an older building, care must be taken to ensure it is properly maintained and our plan will tackle the usual routine problems which come with older buildings and prepare the Town Hall for a bright future. “The Town Hall is very much a cherished building in Llanelli and, as a town-based firm of architects, operating from headquarters just around the corner from the building, we are delighted to be helping with this work.” The Town Hall came into being after the old Local Board of Health first suggested the idea back in 1892. William Griffiths, Estate Agent of Thomas Street, Llanelli, provided t...

The Lewis Partnership firm of architects has secured its first contract with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the RNLI. The firm will be designing an extension to the Horton and Port Eynon lifeboat station on Gower. Lewis Partnership managing director Philip Lewis said: “We are delighted to be working with the RNLI on this project. “I am sure we are all great admirers of the sterling work of the RNLI. We are delighted to be associated with the charity and helping to provide this extension to the Horton station.” Weblink - http://rnli.org and http://rnli.org/findmynearest/station/Pages/Horton-and-Port-Eynon-Lifeboat-Station.aspx http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk/

Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership Ltd have won a prestigious contract to design new homes for Pembrokeshire Housing Association. The contract is for 25 new homes at Orchard Court, Johnston, near Milford Haven. The homes will be built by South Haven Construction. Lewis Partnership managing director Philip Lewis said: “We are delighted to be working with Pembrokeshire Housing on this project. “The scheme is valued at more than £2million and is yet another example of how we have been able to develop our business further west into Pembrokeshire.” Weblink - http://www.southhaven.co.uk/ and http://www.pembs-ha.co.uk/

Llanelli-based architects the Lewis Partnership Ltd are playing a key role in the refurbishment of one of Llanelli’s landmark buildings. Ty Elwyn – the local government building named after one of Llanelli’s favourite sons, Lord Elwyn Jones – is getting an internal makeover. “As a leading firm of South Wales architects based just around the corner from Ty Elwyn, we are delighted to be working with Carmarthenshire Council on this project,” said Lewis Partnership Ltd managing director Phil Lewis, pictured above. “Some careful planning and logistical expertise has been needed to make sure that the refurbishment can go ahead with minimal disruption to the important work that goes on in Ty Elwyn, which is obviously one of Carmarthenshire Council’s key administration sites. “The refurbishment works will take in all five floors of the building and the project is valued at more than £1 million. “The building dates back to the early 1980s and the refurbishment will give it a new lease of life...

A round-up of some news items from Llanelli architects the Lewis Partnership . . . Work on the transformation of the old Royal Oak pub on the campus of St Michael’s School, Llanelli, is starting this week. Work on the extension to doctor’s surgery in Nantgaredig being completed this week. Previous stories on website - http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk/extension-to-nantgaredig-surgery-starts-to-take-shape/  Our presentation of designs to Llanelli Tennis Club went down well last week. New changing rooms and other improvements on the horizon for club. A big welcome to Daniel Phillips, 22, who is studying architectural technology at Bristol University. Daniel has joined us for 24 weeks. Daniel is from Tycoch in Swansea and has already completed the first two years of his university studies. Bro Myrddin Housing Association have asked us to design four homes in Cae Bryn Drain in Carmarthen. We are working with Bro Myrddin Housing Association on a three-bedroomed disabled person...

St Michael’s private and independent school is expanding to build a new boarding house wing. And the architect in charge of the project is former pupil Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership Ltd, of Llanelli. The first stage of the plan is for a 40-bed boarding house and new kitchen and dining facilities for the school. Mr Lewis said: “I have fond memories of being a pupil at ‘St Mike’s’, so being able to play a significant role in its future development is a very proud moment for me. “The team here at the Lewis Partnership has been working very closely with St Michael’s to produce a design which passes that test with the leadership team at the school. “It is great to see the builders moving in on site and work progressing at some speed.” Weblink - http://www.stmikes.co.uk/ http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk/st-michaels-school-llanelli-new-boarding-house/

The award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership Ltd. have announced the promotion of David Ward to Technical Director. The Llanelli-based firm has a growing portfolio of work projects in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. “David’s elevation to technical director from associate director adds further weight to an already experienced team at the Lewis Partnership,” said managing director Philip Lewis. “He is a key player in the continued development of the team at the Lewis Partnership and all his colleagues are delighted he has now been elevated to the position of technical director.” Born and brought up in Ammanford, David is married with two sons, with his family home now being in the Tycroes area. He was educated at Amman Valley Comprehensive School and The University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd. David joined what was then the firm of Wynford and Philip Lewis, Architects and Surveyors, in 1997 as an Architectural Technician, while continuing to read for his ...

The award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership Ltd have just been awarded two prestigious ‘benchmark’ international standards awards. To gain the awards, the firm had to undergo a rigorous five-day audit of their practices and procedures. “It was hard work, but well worth it in the end,” said managing director Philip Lewis. The firm has been awarded ISO 14001 and has had its long-established ISO 9001 accreditation renewed. The awards focus on quality management and environmental management. Mr Lewis said: “As a firm of architects we have a reputation in the community and the ISO awards help to show people how seriously we take things like quality management and environmental management. “These are not just ‘tick box’ awards. The demands of each award are very strict and there is a high level of scrutiny on what the company does and how it works. “Quality is very much ‘front of mind’ for what we do as a firm of architects and we are delighted to find that our audit...

The award-winning Lewis Partnership is playing a key role in the £2million refurbishment of Llanelli’s Coleshill Social Centre.  The centre is being transformed into an innovative ‘one stop shop’ for disabled and disadvantaged people. “This is a very exciting project for Llanelli and we are very proud to be associated with it,” said Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership. “As the architects for the project, we are closely involved with delivering the vision for the centre. “When it is complete, it will be called a ‘centre for economic inclusion’. “But that only goes a part of the way to describing the work which will go on there, “It will play a huge part in helping disabled and disadvantaged people to live independent lives.” Building work is progressing swiftly at the site on the edge of Llanelli’s People’s Park and should be completed by the end of May. Mr Lewis added: “This is a very innovative project for Llanelli involving all sorts of partnerships and ...

Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership are celebrating winning a place on a UK-wide register which is designed to champion efficiency and best practice. Constructionline is a partnership between the Government and Capita and is designed to deliver savings for both the public and private sector. “Constructionline isn’t a name which is well known among the general public, but it is a real door-opener in business,” said Lewis Partnership Managing Director Philip Lewis. “You have to meet key standards for a place on the Constructionline register and we’ve been successful in achieving Constructionline registration. “Constructionline is the UK’s largest register for pre-qualified contractors and consultants. “At the heart of what they do is a national online database. In terms of efficiency, time and cost saving and best practice, Constructionline is proven to deliver for public and private sector organisations alike. “The service is recommended by the Government’s Offi...

The news pages for the website for the Lewis Partnership (architects) have just been updated - http://ning.it/yx8rcC

South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership are playing their part in writing a new chapter in the history of historic Aberglasney House in the Tywi Valley. The Llanelli-based architects have been commissioned to draw up plans for the next phase of restoration at the mansion house which sits at the centre of the heritage gardens. “It is a great privilege and honour to play a part in the continued restoration work at Aberglasney,” said Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership. “The restoration of the house and gardens has been a high profile exercise and the gardens are now one of the finest tourist attractions in Wales. “The latest restoration work at the house is billed as ‘Phase Five’ at Aberglasney. “The actual works involved are very extensive. They involve restoration of the main hall, the elegant staircase and restoring the interior of the East Wing and other rooms. “Naturally, for house with such great history a great deal of care and sensitivity has been req...

The award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership Ltd have this week launched their new website. “The new website reflects our determination to keep up to speed with all the latest technology,” said managing director Philip Lewis. “In our day-to-day business, we use high-tech Autocad computer-aided design, so it was appropriate that we looked at the tools we use to promote ourselves in the high-speed internet age. “In addition to launching a new website ( http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk ), we have also put ourselves on Facebook and Twitter to engage with our clients and customers. “The new website and the social media will help us promote the business throughout South Wales and beyond.” Mr Lewis, pictured above, added: “Although we are based in Llanelli (at Park Crescent), our work takes us all over South Wales, from Bridgend to Pembroke Dock and northwards to Lampeter.  “These are exciting times for us, with a number of design jobs throughout the area and we...

Philip Lewis, managing director of the award-winning architectural firm the Lewis Partnership, of South Wales, gives his views on what 2012 holds – These are uncertain times, but architecture is about building for the future. As one of the leading firms in South Wales, we have to be optimistic about 2012. It may seem like a simple wish, but it is surely not beyond our own Welsh Government to look at providing greater investment opportunities in the building industry. A much-needed stimulus for the building industry will help create employment – and everyone in Wales can feel the mutual benefit from more jobs. As architects, we are keenly aware of the need to produce eco-friendly, sustainable and environmentally-friendly buildings. The focus on energy savings will become ever more important during 2012 and those businesses who use cutting-edge technology and techniques to keep at the forefront of environmental issues will be the ones that succeed. Partnerships will be prized and valu...