Llandudno Junction WAG building is 'jewel in our crown'

Sep 30 2010 by Rayyan Parry, North Wales Weekly News

WAG building is jewel in our crown

FIRST Minister Carwyn Jones officially opened the new Welsh Assembly Government building in Llandudno Junction last Thursday, saying it was a historic day for the people of North Wales.

After over a year of construction, the £27m building has opened its doors to the public.

Pupils from Ysgol y Creuddyn in Penrhyn Bay welcomed the crowds with a Welsh hymn, and renowned poet Gwyn Thomas recited a specially commissioned poem.

“It’s a historic day for the people of North Wales,” said Mr Jones, addressing the crowds. “It will increase access to the WAG in North Wales, it’ll stimulate economic growth in the area and it’s the most energy efficient of the WAG’s buildings.

“Having the WAG in Llandudno Junction is an impressive sign in my mind that we are absolutely committed that the Assembly Government represents all of Wales.

“We hope to see it attract private sector investment. We made sure nearly half of the civil servants are based outside Cardiff, which means in the future people will be able to work not only in Llandudno Junction, but further afield too.”

The new headquarters promises to employ 500 staff from across Wales and locally.

But the WAG has been criticised because the original figure of 650 staff has not been honoured.

“In time we’ll look at 600 staff, but let’s face it, we have had difficulties in terms of public sector finance,” said Mr Jones.

“In time the building will become full, but there’s several hundred people working here already.”

The slate building can claim to be among the greenest in North Wales. Relying entirely on natural ventilation through automatic windows, the building is heated by a biomass boiler.

Heading the construction effort was Pochin Construction.

Managing director Jon Pochin said: “It has been one of the most enjoyable projects I have worked on, and it’s a building I’m extremely proud of. We’ve had a very good team.

“I’d be wrong to say a building gets built without problems. We were on site for one and a half years and had some awfully bad weather which slowed us down for a few weeks.

“Failure was never an option and we had to complete the building on time. We had to look at accelerating the work in some areas.”

Overlooking the management of the building will be construction programme director Richard Wilson, who said: “This is a jewel in the crown in North Wales.”