Productivity, sustainability and skills boosted through decarbonisation initiative

A GOVERNMENT-funded programme is helping businesses in Flintshire become more productive, sustainable and future-ready through cutting-edge support and innovation.

Delivered by AMRC Cymru, a leading research and development facility based in Broughton and part of the University of Sheffield, the initiative has already supported 32 local companies through a combination of tailored reports, training events and one-to-one assistance.

The scheme—Accelerating Decarbonisation and Productivity Technology and Skills (ADAPTS)—is backed by £811,000 from Flintshire’s share of the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). It aims to boost growth, reduce carbon emissions and create skilled employment across the county’s manufacturing sector.

Sixteen of the participating businesses also received in-depth support from AMRC Cymru engineers to implement new technologies, enhance workforce skills and address key areas for improvement identified in their initial assessments.

Among those to benefit was Biofortuna, a contract development and manufacturing organisation, which developed an automated solution to scale up a critical process—opening doors to new markets while maintaining high accuracy.

Chris McCarthy, development and manufacturing manager at Biofortuna, said:
“If we hadn’t partnered with AMRC Cymru, we would have had to invest a significant amount of time and resource into researching potential options—and even then, we may have ended up limited to off-the-shelf solutions.
ADAPTS gave us the opportunity to approach our challenge from a completely different angle. They developed bespoke solutions tailored specifically to our needs.”

Natalie Jones, project manager at AMRC Cymru, added:
“Seeing the difference the UKSPF-funded ADAPTS programme has made to Biofortuna’s productivity and precision is fantastic. I’m excited to watch how this new technology supports their ongoing growth.”

Reflecting on the wider impact of the scheme, she continued:
“We’ve achieved excellent results across a number of key performance areas—including adoption of new products and services, improved digital connectivity, increased efficiency, and reduced carbon emissions.
Given the nature and timescale of the work, the full impact of the programme will continue to unfold in the months and years ahead, especially in terms of job creation and retention.”

Councillor Chris Dolphin, Flintshire County Council’s cabinet member for economy, environment and climate, welcomed the scheme’s success:
“With UK manufacturers investing around £38.8 billion into the economy each year, it’s great to see the ADAPTS programme preparing Flintshire businesses for future growth.
I believe this investment will boost local resilience and, in the long term, help attract and retain talent in the county.”

APPROVED plans to change part of Tenby’s former town hall and market hall, and the nearby former TP Hughes department store to a spa hotel, restaurant and café could be completed in just 18 months despite concerns from local traders.

In an application recommended for conditional approval at the April 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, Wil Crockford of Bassett Crockford Holdings Ltd sought permission for a change of use the former TP Hughes/ M&Co store and a part change of use of the council-owned market hall and former town hall to a spa hotel, restaurant and cafe/bar, with associated extensions and alterations at 12 High Street and Old Town Hall and Market Hall, Tenby.

The development for a new hotel extends across two buildings; the 20 hotel rooms will be located within the remaining upper floors of the existing M & Co buildings, and two new roof extensions in a mansard form to accommodate further hotel space.

The spa would be located at first floor level of the town hall aspect, and into the market’s first floor.

Further facilities in the form of a café will be linked to the hotel reception area at ground floor with additional toilet facilities and bicycle storage provided within the basement level. The proposed restaurant will be accommodated within the southern building.

The scheme was supported by Tenby Town Council, subject to conditions including the protection of existing market operations, and an agreed action plan for integration with potential refurbishment of the market, with Tenby Civic Society has raising concerns about the spa/fitness suite having an impact on the running of the market traders’ businesses.

Concerns have previously been raised about the impact on existing market traders during construction both in terms of noise and dust during works and a potential temporary market closure for construction work to be undertaken, with Cathy Butler speaking on their behalf at the April 9 meeting.

She said that while the market itself – believed to be the oldest in Wales – was flourishing despite the building being in need of renovation, there had been a lack of reassurance and feedback from the council, as landlords of the hall, as the proposed scheme progressed.

She stressed there was no objection to the neighbouring hotel but to the the potential impact on the market operations through the upstairs spa development.

“We’ve learned most of our news from the newspapers and we’re worried sick,” she told committee members, saying any impact on the market affected the “future of not just us but all our local suppliers as well”.

“Consider the small guy here; a spa is for the few, and the market for the many,” she added.

Agent Phil Davies told the committee there was no intention to disrupt the market, with the potential for putting that section of works on hold if there were any potential renovations to the hall through the council.

He said the whole scheme was expected to take 18 months to complete; the committee later hearing from local councillor Sam Skyrme-Blackhall that discussions were ongoing at council level with potential funding identified.

The application was given conditional delegated approval to senior park officers on completion of a S106 legal agreement to cover financial contributions.

A related listed building application was also granted delegated approval.

PLANS to convert a Pembrokeshire coach house barn as part of the expansion of a local holiday let business has been approved.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr and Mrs Rodney sought permission for the conversion at Johnston Hall, Church Road, Johnston, having recently purchased the existing business.

A supporting statement through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd said: “The business currently consists of three self-catering units of which two are within Johnston Hall and a third is a detached barn conversion as a disabled friendly holiday unit. This third unit has recently been completed and is open for business. All three existing holiday units offer high-quality visitor accommodation set within an attractive garden and wider grounds setting.”

More recent applications have been submitted for the site, including a scheme for three shepherd huts and a new covered swimming pool, with the latter to serve both personal use and for on-site holiday makers, which was refused permission last summer.

“Although this application was refused in July 2024, it is clear from reading the delegated report that there was no objection to the swimming pool element and that the refusal was solely in regard to the proposed three shepherd huts (i.e. siting and conflict with planning policy),” the statement says, adding: “A revised application for the provision of the covered swimming pool has recently been resubmitted for consideration by the council.

“A further stage of the business is to convert the two-storey traditional stone coach house building, located to the immediate east of the main house, for use as holiday accommodation, thus strengthening my client’s holiday let business.”

An officer report recommended approval for the holiday let, comprising five bedrooms over two levels of accommodation with associated car parking provision and external amenity space, said

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.