Rebecca Evans MS, Minster for Finance and Local Government
I have today attended the fourth annual conference of Ystadau Cymru in celebration of the collaborative work undertaken by asset managers across the public sector in Wales.
A ‘one public estate’ approach is very much about ensuring our assets reach their full potential, whether that be addressing homelessness, relieving the affordable housing crisis, supporting our communities through asset transfers, or responding to the climate change challenge.
The theme for this year’s conference was Social Value. Investments in our economic, environmental, social, and cultural assets do just that.
The Welsh public sector faces a challenging financial outlook, which makes it even important to acknowledge and celebrate the success, innovation, and adaptability that is being applied across the public estate to help secure and deliver important services to the people of Wales.
This is the third year that annual awards have featured in the conference and, as ever, there were some excellent entries demonstrating a wide range of very positive outcomes from the projects undertaken by our public sector colleagues. Entries covered a wide range of initiatives, judged against Economic Growth, Environmental Sustainability, Social Value and Innovation. I am sharing the results with Members of the Senedd in order to recognise the good work that has taken place, and to share some examples of the excellent practice that is developing across Wales.
Judging the winners in each of these categories was not easy, but I am delighted to announce the winners in each of the categories as follows:
Creating Economic Growth: Newport City Council and their partners for the restoration and regeneration of the Grade II Newport Indoor Market.
Demonstrating Environmental Sustainability: Wrexham County Borough Council and their partners for the refurbishment and upgrading of facilities at Crown Buildings Wrexham.
Demonstrating Social Value: Ogmore-by-Sea Village Association, Vale of Glamorgan Council, and partners for the development of new facilities at Ogmore-by-Sea.
Delivering Innovation: Valleys to Coast and their partners for delivering a first for Wales with the Fford Yr Eglwys housing development.
Choosing an overall winner from such a strong field was particularly challenging, but in recognition of the contribution across more than one category, I can announce the winner of the 2022 Ystadau Cymru Award as Crown Building Wrexham.
My congratulations extend to all the projects entered in this year’s awards and I look forward to another successful year in 2023.