Pembrokeshire Pod Project
Local Services
Project Description:
Pembrokeshire Frame currently own a 3000 square metre steel frame building located in the car park of their Merlin’s Bridge showroom & training site. Mind approached FRAME to see if the building could be converted. The two charities therefore plan to come together as partners to raise funds to transform the current building in the car park into an environmentally friendly, sustainable, state of the art new well-being centre. Mind will rent the building from FRAME and apply their proven working model to new circumstances at the FRAME site. FRAME is leading this project.
Project Outcomes:
Changes had to be made to the initial project and the renovation of the empty shed into what has now become The Green Shed has had a major impact on the location where it stands within The Pembrokeshire FRAME estate. This area has now become recognised as a Centre for Re-use and a stimulus for meeting, debate, conversation and inspiration regarding all that is re-use, climate change and reducing one’s carbon footprint.
” Thanks to Arwain Sir Benfro funding this project has massively supported Pembrokeshire FRAME’s ability to mastermind a plan to re-develop this area positioned within an unattractive industrial estate and low-income residential area into a much improved, tidy and well-designed attraction that is already shining a ray of ‘green’ light into the vicinity, attracting large numbers of the local community to visit on a regular basis.”
Lessons Learned:
Original proposals are very much subject to change and we advise anybody writing their initial Expression of Interest for similar funding to be aware and open to their project taking different directions. We realise that our project, thanks to Arwain Sir Benfro funding, has greatly increased and transformed from what we originally set out to achieve. There are some definite lessons that we have learnt. Due to funding criteria the renovation of the building had to be undertaken very quickly and therefore our initial plans to consult regarding the development of architects plans were not realised. In hindsight this created issues such as the kitchen in the café not being as large as required and the location of the shop and other facilities perhaps not as conveniently located as they could have been. On the whole though we could not have asked for a better outcome than the Green Shed project and we are delighted with what we have been able to achieve.
Links:
https://www.pembrokeshire-frame.org.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j8W0Rn05y4
Arwain Sir Benfro and the LEADER Programme concluded in December 2021 once all projects were completed and funding exhausted. There is now no dedicated support upon the completion of the LEADER Programme in Pembrokeshire. Should you have any queries, PLANED as the previous administrators, may be able to assist, or similarly for wider questions on the LEADER Programme in Wales, please contact the Wales European Funding Office (WEFO).