£2m more set aside as 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

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

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 has 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 £40 million 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."