New north Wales decarbonisation hub brings jobs to Penygroes
We are leading an unique decarbonisation partnership which is regenerating communities across north Wales including investing in a former tissue factory in Penygroes creating more than 130 local jobs.
We are building on the success of our Project Sero Net Gwynedd partnership, which recently won a prestigious Northern Housing Award for Best Approach to Sustainability, delivering centres of excellence for decarbonisation across north Wales.
Key partners for our decarbonisation hub in Penygroes include ourselves, Travis Perkins, Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and Welcome Furniture which are leading on regenerating the empty former Northwood tissue factory, which closed during the pandemic.
Vital jobs and skills will be brought back to this semi-rural area of Gwynedd, with the transformation of the 120,000 sq ft warehouse space into a training facility for demonstrating, installing and maintaining products and materials associated with the decarbonisation of homes.
The new decarbonisation hub at Penygroes, which has received £230,000 of funding for Phase 1 of the project from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Grant, will support our growth ambitions, with it becoming the main base for our in-house repairs and maintenance team, Trwsio.
Travis Perkins will also relocate to Penygroes from Peblig with an official opening for the hub planned for later in the year, with partners working collaboratively with local sustainable community organisations such as Antur Waunfawr, Biocomposites Center and M-SParc.
The decarbonisation hub will develop skills to install and maintain small solar photovoltaic, domestic heat pump and solar thermal hot water systems.
Julie James, Welsh Climate Change Minister, said:
“It’s inspirational to see the breadth of this innovative partnership’s whole system approach to decarbonisation, leading the way on tackling climate change across Wales and showing its commitment to set the highest net zero standards in the UK.”
Iwan Trefor Jones, our Deputy Chief Executive, said:
“We are so proud of our unique multi-agency partnership, which is the first in the UK, establishing a regionally anchored Centre of Excellence in Decarbonisation in Penygroes.
“Our partnership will ensure that Gwynedd can lead on decarbonisation and learn from the experience to inspire similar approaches throughout Wales and beyond.
“We are accelerating the transition to net zero across our communities, ultimately to reduce bills for residents facing the cost of living crisis.
“The long-term benefits are far reaching, acting as a catalyst to bring about the changes needed to decarbonise homes in Gwynedd, regenerating communities and creating new economic opportunities for local people from the Green Recovery.”
Gwynedd Councillor and Housing Cabinet Member, Craig ab Iago added:
“It’s superb to see the community working together to regenerate this part of Penygroes; the strength of this special partnership is creating a wide range of sustainable job opportunities across Gwynedd, providing a pathway for residents out of fuel poverty. Whilst reducing energy bills, local people are learning new skills and carbon footprints are being minimised, enabling a more robust local supply chain.”