£2m more set aside after issue found in old store

A STRUCTURAL issue has been identified during the redevelopment of the former Debenhams store in Carmarthen and extra money is needed to rectify it, senior councillors have been told.

- RICHARD YOULE Senior local democracy reporter

The former Debenhams store at St Catherine's Walk, Carmarthen.

(GOOGLE MAPS)

The anchor store in St Catherine’s Walk Shopping Centre closed after the high-street retailer went into administration in 2021, prompting Carmarthenshire Council to step in with plans to create a new health and leisure hub there.

The project attracted significant UK and Welsh Government funding, the council committed cash of its own, and work began in 2024.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Monday, Cllr Alun Lenny said around £40m was being invested in the project but there had been a hitch.

“During the work of transforming this huge building for various purposes, a structural issue was detected,” he said.

“Although a detailed structural survey was conducted, I'm told that this defect would not have been detected until the very extensive construction work had reached a recent stage. This has resulted in extra costs and delays - which we have no choice but to address.”