Wrexham Council look to £40k consultants to help “Future Proof” loss making Ty Pawb

Wrexham Council is planning to spend up £40,000 on external consultants to “future proof” a market and arts centre.

In February, concerns were raised over the financial sustainability of Ty Pawb in Wrexham city centre as it faced a predicted budget pressure of £298,000.

The local authority said increased energy costs of £144,000 were one of the main reasons for the anticipated shortfall.

It led to a warning from a senior councillor that the centre would need to become financially sustainable or face having its future placed under review.

A report was later published showing how heat loss is adding to the bill for the facility as the roof of the former People’s Market building was described as “not fit for purpose”.

The council is now advertising to find a consultancy firm to produce a report examining the future of the facility.

A tender notice shared on the Sell2Wales website states the report should outline options to tackle the building’s carbon footprint, as well as for the use of some of the parking spaces on its roof.

It highlights that part of the car park could be used for events such as film screenings, with a budget of up to £40,000 set aside to pay for the report.

The notice states: “Wrexham County Borough Council wish to commission a suitably qualified consultancy to produce a comprehensive feasibility study titled ‘Creatively Resilient’.
“(It will) focus on future proofing Tŷ Pawb, addressing the carbon footprint of the building, and including potential alternative uses for the open-air rooftop car park spaces at Tŷ Pawb.
“In the context of climate emergency and forthcoming active travel routes, it is anticipated in the medium to long term that less car parking space will be required at Tŷ Pawb.
“As such, this feasibility study is required to explore the potential of the open-air car parking for event space, gardening space, film screenings, and wellbeing uses.
“It is anticipated that the broad scope of the work may require a multi-disciplinary team.”

Bids for the contract must be made by the start of July, with the successful applicant expected to be decided by August.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter