Client: Bridgend County Borough Council
Team: EPT Partnership; Austin Partnership; Holloway Partnership; TC Consult
The Victorian seaside resort of Porthcawl just became more exciting after the “state of the art” Porthcawl Water Sports Centre was officially opened on Friday 11th October 2019. The glass-fronted iconic building, sits high above the beach overlooking the blue flagged Rest Bay and the Bristol channel. Helping turn the town into a “leading coastal destination”.
After the removal of asbestos materials back in September 2018, Henstaff Construction Ltd demolished the long standing Malc’s Cafe and toilets that had stood in the Rest Bay carpark for decades.
Allowing the way for the construction of the striking, two-storey braced steel and glulam frame. The building will house the new Watersports Centre and Café at Rest Bay alongside new retail units, toilets and changing facilities on the ground floor and café, kitchen and toilets on the first floor. The Scheme also includes a new external covered bin/ cycle and plant store and associated external works including paving and vehicle areas to the adjoining spaces.
Designed to appeal to water sport enthusiasts throughout South Wales and beyond, the new two-storey centre has been constructed to provide a purpose-built base for local groups and clubs as well as enhanced facilities for visitors to Rest Bay. The centre also promises to benefit the local community, acting as a base for beach cleans and courses on environmental education, outdoor learning and ocean literacy. It will also act as a training centre for life guards and surf instructors and as the base for the Welsh Coast Surf Club. The new water sports centre further cements Porthcawl as one of the UK’s fastest growing surfing destinations.
Awards: LABC Cymru Building Excellence Awards 2020 – Best Large Commercial Building: “Henstaff Construction can be very proud of what they achieved”
