Canolfan Tir Glas A new vision for Lampeter
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Canolfan
Tir Glas
A new vision for Lampeter
1
Traditionally, ‘tir glas’ can be translated as ‘green land’
and conveys a green and fertile landscape similar to
the one in which Lampeter is located. It portrays a
prosperous agricultural region whose land is both
natural and productive.
‘Glastir’ is also the name of a sustainable land
management scheme in Wales launched by the Welsh
Government in 2012. Its goals include ‘combating climate
Canolfan
change, improving water management and maintaining
and enhancing biodiversity.’
The Centre’s name also relates to Storïau’r Tir Glas, a
series of short stories published by D.J. Williams from the
Tir Glas
village of Rhydcymerau, that depicts the resilience and
kindliness of the farming communities of the Lampeter
area and the northern parts of Carmarthenshire at the
beginning of the last century.
A new vision for Lampeter
2 3
A new vision As a result of the recent pandemic, the University is currently
reimagining the future potential of Lampeter and the role of the
University in supporting an integrated vision for the town.
for Lampeter
Having participated in a number of public events in recent years to
consider the future direction of Lampeter, the University is convinced
that it has a real opportunity – in partnership with others – to develop
an entity that focuses on the relationship between itself and the
surrounding natural and rich environment.
With that in mind, the University intends to establish Canolfan Tir Glas
on its campus in Lampeter during 2021.
This centre – which will promote the local food industry, local
sustainability, resilience and enterprise within a rural context – will
focus on strengthening the economic infrastructure of Lampeter and
its hinterland, providing the town and area with a clear focus in terms
“An enterprising and distinctive region
of identity and brand.
delivering economic growth driven by
innovation, skills, connectivity and more
A core part of the scheme is to work closely with neighbourhood
productive jobs supporting prosperous and
discount food retailer Aldi to develop the concept of a food village
bilingual communities.”
on part of Pontfaen fields. As a net carbon zero company, and with a
clear ambition to cut single use plastic and source as much produce
(A Vision for Growing Mid Wales April 2020)
locally within Wales, Aldi’s business practices align with the principles
underpinning the University’s aims for Canolfan Tir Glas.
“We have focused on a strategy that will
aim to re-invigorate the local economy and
With the sale of the land to Aldi, the University would also be in a
provide a prosperous, healthy, safe and
position to invest significantly in a new food and hospitality training
affordable environment in which the citizens
centre in the centre of Lampeter and a rural enterprise centre on its
of Ceredigion can live and work and which
campus.
will aim to try and retain our young people in
well paid jobs.”
The scheme is underpinned by economic regeneration, with the aim
of creating new jobs, attracting many more visitors to the town and
(Cllr. Elen ap Gwyn Leader of Ceredigion County Council –
increasing the number of further and higher education students
Ceredigion County Council’s Corporate Strategy 2017-2022)
studying in Lampeter.
“To support a future growing population, we
The University sees the establishment of Canolfan Tir Glas as a
need to be able to continue to invest in our
significant development and a clear indication of its long-term
places, making them attractive and affordable
commitment to the Lampeter Campus. Indeed, it can envisage this
for our people to live and work alongside
development leading in time to the establishment of the campus as a
growing the visitor economy sustainably.”
leading centre for sustainable education within the United Kingdom.
That would be a fitting and appropriate way of celebrating the
(Boosting Ceredigion’s Economy: A Strategy for Action)
University’s bicentenary in 2022.
4 5
The Vision
The University recognises the The aim is to launch the Centre in Food Market. It would also be
importance of engaging itself 2021 ensuring that within a year it possible to partner with other
with the local community and, would offer a range of post-16 courses resilience centres such as The
with that in mind, the intention is in business and enterprise, food, Resilience Centre in Lydney,
to locate the proposed Centre in rural tourism and hospitality, all of Gloucestershire.
three specific places in the town. which would be delivered through a
The Centre’s headquarters will sustainability prism. The vision is long-term and one that
be established on the University requires financial investment from
The University intends to see Canolfan campus, while it will also have a The Centre will also provide short several sources over a period of time.
prominent presence in the town courses in the form of micro-credits
Tir Glas maintaining an eco-system in centre in the form of an innovative with a view to upskilling and raising The University will work closely with
the Lampeter area that will support rural training centre with a food village the confidence of the existing Ceredigion County Council, Lampeter
infrastructure and act as a catalyst for to celebrate and showcase local workforce in Ceredigion and Mid Wales Town Council and other partners to
produce near the proposed Aldi as a whole. The intention would be to attract funding from various funds to
promoting a tourism economy with a clear food store on Pontfaen fields. These offer these courses in 2022. develop the Canolfan Tir Glas initiative,
focus on food and hospitality. will all be interconnected providing ensuring that it acts as a catalyst
a unique opportunity for the town Canolfan Tir Glas’ headquarters on for further developments across
and the University to work together the campus will initially house three Ceredigion in the areas of food and
strategically for the benefit and specific entities, namely: hospitality.
prosperity of the local economy for
years to come. 1. A Learning and Research Centre There will be a real opportunity for the
for promoting small businesses in scheme to bid for significant funding
Over the past 10 years, the University a rural context with a particular from the Mid Wales Growth Fund in
has made significant investment in its focus on the food and hospitality due course, with the aim of injecting
campus infrastructure and academic industries. There will be an new life and energy into the economy
offer in Lampeter. Its vision is to opportunity to develop a rural of Lampeter and the surrounding area.
develop a unique Lampeter offer by enterprise hub within the Centre
working closely with the community, with specific space allocated to With the current pandemic having
developing skills levels within setting up and supporting micro- changed people’s attitudes towards
the region, creating employment businesses; the environment, health and
opportunities and attracting further wellbeing, and with an increasing
investment to the town. The realisation 2. A University of Gastronomy emphasis from the Welsh Government
of the vision for Canolfan Tir Glas is similar to the one developed at the on the key principles of the Well-
facilitated by capital investment from University of Pollenzo in Italy - that being of Future Generations Act, the
Aldi in relation to Pontfaen fields. A would work in close partnership establishment of the Centre will be
key factor in choosing Aldi as a partner with Food Centre Wales in Horeb; a timely and welcome development
was its commitment to the vision as both locally and nationally.
well as its corporate responsibility 3. The Wales Centre for Resilience
credentials, promoting sustainability, and Harmony that would work
health and equality. closely with locally rooted
organisations such as the Lampeter
Resilience Hub and the People’s
6 7
Aims and Objectives
Aims Objectives
To establish Lampeter as a major T o provide a range of Level 3-8 T o increase the number of further T o establish the idea of a food co-participation in the areas of T o maximise and improve the
centre for promoting healthy and qualifications on the Lampeter and higher education students village in Lampeter linking the food, rural tourism and enterprise; quality of hotels and places to
sustainable communities within a Campus that would support the in the region; development in Pontfaen with the To establish ‘food’ as a brand for stay for visitors to the town and
rural context; food and hospitality industries in To increase the region’s importance of healthy eating and the future development of surrounding area.
To strengthen the infrastructure of Ceredigion and beyond; qualification levels; keeping fit; Lampeter town;
the town and surrounding area’s To develop a quality workforce To organise residential conferences To establish a training centre in To increase the number of visitors
economy creating new jobs within for the local economy by upskilling of national and international status the town where the emphasis to the town throughout the year;
the food and hospitality sectors; and professionalising where in the areas of food, hospitality and would be on introducing the public To develop attractions in and
To develop Lampeter as a tourist necessary; rural tourism on campus; to a range of local produce and around the town relating to the
destination, with a particular To retain the area’s young people To promote sustainability as a sustainable methods of cooking; food industry that would attract
focus on the food industry and in Ceredigion; key feature of student life on the To establish local/county networks more visitors to the area;
celebrating local produce. Lampeter Campus; in the name of the Centre that
would promote collaboration and
8 9
Canolfan Tir Glas
1. The Pontfaen Proposal
Food village
Exhibitions
Sporting and
Community facility
The Pontfaen development is an exciting
opportunity to create a new commercial
venture that will help bring Lampeter back
to life and drive economic growth in the area.
It will be a starting point for realising a bold
The Pontfaen development will enable the University to:
vision for the town, enabling the University and
other interested parties to apply for significant
- work closely with Aldi to future;
funding from both regional and national funds
establish a food village on - invest in a high quality
in future years.
the site where there will be training centre for local food
an opportunity to showcase and produce in Lampeter
and celebrate local food town centre;
produce; - further invest in the annual
- work closely with Aldi to Food Festival held on the
complement the local food University grounds;
offering and opportunities - invest in a permanent home
for collaboration and for Canolfan Tir Glas on the
increased employment University campus;
opportunities. - upgrade the remaining
- invest in the pavilion – a playing field at Pontfaen
grade 2 listed building which will be for the use
- ensuring that it will be of University students and
seen as a civic place and a local sports clubs.
community resource in the
10 11
PROPOSED MASTERPLAN Shared site access to foodstore,
multi-purpose pavilion and sports pitch,
Primary pedestrian access recreation space and Food Village
DRAFT Option 4 190866-0604 26/01/21
Existing bellmouth removed and
ROAD footpath raised
FAEN
PONT Existing site entrance converted to
shared pedestrian footpath and cycle
way. (No vehicular access)
SUD
S
Event and exhibition pods linked with
the food and nutrition industry to
showcase Welsh produce to coincide
with associated academic activities
S
SUD
LOBBY
EXIT
NCE
LOBBY
ENTRA
NG
ROOM
MEETI
DISAB MER/
LED
FOOD
SUDS
CUSTO
WC
E
FEMAL
WC
MALE
VILLAGE
WC
LOBBY
Proposed Aldi foodstore and associated
ER
CLEAN
parking
GERS
ROOM
E
OFFIC
MANA
STAFF
Informal routes delineated by short cut
E
ROOM
LFAR
PLANT
WE
grass
Parking
Parking
FOODSTORE
sqm
1935 A
GE
sqm
1315 AREA
GIA
sq m &
sq m
rs) 394 Bay
ding E
1858
ng Loa US
SUDS
REHO
IL
RETA
eze
WA
ludi
Fre
(inc
NG
LOADI
BAY
Improved multi-purpose grassed pitch
EV
STORE
BIN
to accommodate rugby and football
EV
)
R
Pallets
CHILLE
(32
NIGHT
Electric charging points for community
EV
EV
and visitor use
)
Pallets
STOREER
FREEZ
(20
STAF
F PA
RKIN
G (7n
o)
COMMUNITY
RECREATION
SPACE
Overflow Pavilion Parking?
Existing Listed pavilion to be
extensively refurbished to form a Nature
SUDSand
BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity
/
area
community hub for the Food Village
and sport/recreation uses. PAVILION
Pavilion
Parking
PARKING PROVISION
New pedestrian access in south-east
Foodstore corner linking to leisure centre. (No
vehicular access)
119no. (INC. 7no STAFF SPACES)
0 50 75 100 m
Scale 1:1000 at A3
12
DRAFT P o n tfa e n R o a d
L a m p eter 13
Canolfan Tir Glas With the sale of the piece of land to Aldi,
the University would be eager to invest
financially in a further venture in Lampeter
2. Town Centre Restaurant,
town centre. The intention would be to work
with businesses or organisations in the town
to establish a high quality training centre
Retail and Training Hub
in the field of local food and produce. This
development will be a means of:
- bridging between the University and the local
community;
- providing accredited courses in the fields of
food and hospitality;
- providing work experience for students of the
proposed University of Gastronomy;
- attracting visitors to the town from near and
far;
- developing and maintaining local networks in
the fields of food and hospitality;
- providing cookery courses and exhibitions
to the local community with a focus on local
produce;
- holding master classes whereby it would
be possible to attract nationally and
internationally renowned chefs to Lampeter to
talk about their craft;
- sharing information about local businesses
focused on food and drink production;
- displaying and selling locally produced food;
- engaging with Coleg Ceredigion and Ysgol Bro
Pedr ensuring appropriate provision/ training
for their students who are considering a career
in food and hospitality;
- supporting the intention of establishing
Lampeter as a centre with national expertise
in the field of food.
14 15
Canolfan Tir Glas
Canolfan Tir Glas’ headquarters will be located in The Centre will house:
a refurbished building on the University campus
subject to external grant-funding. The aim is to see the - offices and lecture rooms of varying sizes;
Centre offering a range of qualifications in areas such - new micro-businesses that will focus on
3. Campus Headquarters
as business and enterprise, food, rural tourism and regenerating the rural economy;
hospitality by the academic year 2022/23 and thereby - conferences of national and international status in
supporting Ceredigion County Council’s Economic the field of sustainability in its broadest sense;
Enterprise Hub
Strategy and the strategic priorities of the Mid Wales - An Enterprise Hub that will support and advise
Growth Deal. those wishing to set up a business locally;
- a University of Gastronomy that will offer training of
Learning and Research international quality in food and cooking;
- Wales Centre for Resilience and Harmony that
will offer training and advice on how to develop
Wales Centre for resilience in various contexts with a clear focus on
implementing sustainable approaches at all times.
Resilience and
Harmony
16 17
Why this
development?
In its current Corporate Plan, Ceredigion County Town Centre
Restaurant, Retail Campus
Council has identified ‘boosting the economy’ as and Training Hub Headquarters
its top priority. The County Council’s new Economic Pontfaen
Strategy outlines how it intends to achieve that, and Proposal
underlines the close relationship between economic
prosperity and the county’s natural assets.
It is emphasised that Ceredigion education college, the universities Looking to the future, therefore, it is The Growing Mid Wales Partnership regional economic strategies, UWTSD hub for the whole of Ceredigion and
has ‘many unique qualities and it is and local training initiatives is more clear that rural tourism and the food recognises this by noting that there has identified specific opportunities be home to its county and regional
important that we celebrate these important than ever. industry will have key roles to play is a real opportunity ‘to utilise our to contribute to the County Council’s teams. With a little initiative, the land
qualities and use them to build in the process of regenerating and natural assets and resources to strategic priorities over the next between Ysgol Bro Pedr and Pontfaen
new opportunities.’ It is further The Council notes that over 7000 boosting Ceredigion’s economy. develop a unique selling point that decade. fields can easily be envisaged as home
emphasised that Ceredigion will Ceredigion residents are now strengthens tourism in the region.’ It to a sports village that would include
be seen to grow in confidence ‘as it employed in the tourism, food and With the impact of Covid-19 weighing further underlines that ‘Mid Wales has The establishment of Canolfan Tir Glas quality playing fields, a 4G training
increasingly uses its assets – natural, hospitality industries. Similarly, the heavily on us for years to come, people higher levels of sustainable practice in 2021 will enable it to contribute to pitch, an indoor bowling centre and a
physical and people – to develop Growing Mid Wales Partnership will be more likely than ever to invest built on the strengths of our natural the regeneration of Lampeter town dedicated running track.
and grow the economy.’ recognises that 6.6% of employment in holidays in rural areas, where they and institutional assets – offering the and become a catalyst for a range of
in Ceredigion and Powys is associated will feel safe, healthy and contented, opportunity for the region to excel associated developments across the
The County Council recognises that with the sale of food or drink far from the pollution of the big cities in tourism focused on sustainability, area.
its ability to generate economic (compared to 5.8% across the UK) and towns. the circular economy, in addition to
growth will depend to a large extent while there has been an increase of supporting health and wellbeing Looking to the future, there is potential
‘on having a motivated, multi-skilled 11.5% in employment related to the On this basis, Ceredigion’s economy actions.’ to link the proposed food village – with
workforce to work in the enterprises food industry in Mid Wales between should benefit greatly from its its emphasis on healthy eating and on
that will drive that growth’. It is 2010 and 2017 (compared to the 9.9% geographical location, natural By being involved in local discussions, the richness of local food products –
highlighted that the need for close increase seen across Wales over the resources and welcoming nature. considering comments from with a new development in the field of
collaboration between the local same period.) community groups and considering sport, fitness and physical education,
education service, the further a number of recently published where Lampeter would act as a central
18 19Benefits
The types of benefits that might be expected from
realising the vision are noted below, which include:
• offering a long-term solution to the economic
development of Lampeter and the surrounding area;
• creating around fifty new quality jobs in three
different places in Lampeter town;
If the vision outlined above is to be realised, • having a positive impact on employment elsewhere
the University will be required to establish a in the town;
strategic partnership with several partners • raising the profile of Lampeter as a regional food
centre;
in Ceredigion and beyond. • attracting more visitors to the town, thus boosting
the local economy;
• supporting local businesses involved in the food and
hospitality industries;
• strengthening the relationship between the town
The partnership with the County Council will be and the University;
key and what is proposed will need to align closely • establishing a working relationship between the
with its strategic priorities for the next decade and University and Food Centre Wales in Horeb;
beyond. Similarly, the Centre will need the fullest • offering a range of specific educational qualifications
support of the Growing Mid Wales Partnership, in Ceredigion for the first time;
ensuring that its aims and objectives meet some of • providing local education and training for those
the priorities of the whole region. By establishing wishing to remain in Ceredigion;
these partnerships and through strategic • establishing relevant networks where businesses
collaboration between them, Canolfan Tir Glas can support each other;
could be a significant development for both the • establishing a clear focus for the future marketing
University and the town of Lampeter. and promotion of Lampeter town and district;
• promoting new micro-businesses within the food
industry;
• securing further investment in the Lampeter Food
Festival;
• securing alternative funding and support for
community events from Aldi;
• stimulating further economic activity in and around
the town relating to the food and hospitality
industry;
• attracting national attention to Lampeter together
with external funding for other food industry related
projects within a rural context;
• stimulating other developments in the town that
could have a focus on sport, health, wellbeing and
fitness.
20 21Contact details
Gwilym Dyfri Jones
Provost of Lampeter and Carmarthen Campuses
g.d.jones@uwtsd.ac.uk
Emyr Jones
Head of Estates Development
emyr.jones@uwtsd.ac.uk
Hywel Davies
Research, Innovation and Enterprise Office
h.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
Canolfan
Tir Glas
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