WELSH language broadcaster S4C has offered £3 million towards the cost of a new creative hub proposed for Carmarthen ahead of its move out of its Llanishen HQ next year.
The company, which is due to move from its home in Llanishen in 2018, has offered to pay £3 million over 20 years to rent one quarter of the University of Wales Trinity St David hub.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Planning at UWTSD, Mr Gwyndaf Tobias, said: “The overall project cost is £14 million. S4C will pay £3 million once they take their tenancy. The building will take up 3,700 square metres with S4C taking around 25% of that space.”
Building is due to start in April and is expected to finish in spring next year. The funding was discussed in the House of Commons yesterday.
Professor Medwin Hughes told the Welsh Affairs Committee: “We need strong economic opportunities to develop the medium of Welsh language. The idea of developing economic and cultural opportunities should have a major impact not only on the economy but on the culture in West Wales. We desperately need new economic opportunities to develop the medium of Welsh in the area.”
Leader of Cardiff and councillor for Llanishen, Phil Bale, tweeted:
@CommonsWelshAff Opposed to any attempt to sell current @s4c HQ in Llanishen for housing or non employment use. Need to replace lost jobs.
— Phil Bale (@PhilBale) March 13, 2017
The Welsh Government recently announced it would give £3 million towards building the new headquarters. A further £3 million is expected from the Swansea Bay city deal, despite an independent advisory panel on creative industries saying the project should not get any public money.
The S4C headquarters are due to move from Llanishen to Carmarthen next year.
