Rural heritage centre concession

Descriptions

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (MTCBC) currently own and manage a medium sized horticultural greenhouse facility within the grounds of Cyfarthfa Park. In 1999 the greenhouses were developed into a community participation and training facility with support from European Structural Funds. Volunteering, structured training, and therapeutic participation form the primary focus of the existing provision in the greenhouses, which are currently used by several different user groups and managed by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s Social Regeneration Department.In addition to the continued provision of community activity within the greenhouses, the local authority has been successful in securing Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) to deliver a substantial heritage based restoration programme within the grounds of Cyfarthfa Park. This includes the renovation of the historic Bothy out buildings which are adjacent to the greenhouse complex. As part of the HLF project, the refurbished Bothy will enable an extension of the facilities and training provision currently available to the community at the greenhouses. The additional refurbished space will also provide a small retail outlet. The local authority also wishes to explore the further development of this new multi-faceted facility into a rural heritage centre as part of an existing Trans National Programme being delivered in partnership with five European Partner projects spread across Western Europe. It is anticipated that the combined activities delivered from the site will become an integral portal to exploit the tourism economy potential of the Cyfarthfa Heritage Area for the benefit of local communities and those currently disadvantaged in the open labour market.The Offer:There are two potential options that the local authority wishes to explore within this Public Information Notice (PIN).Option 1:For a suitable, not for profit organisation, to apply for the lease of the retail outlet at the refurbished Bothy which also includes the development of a lone-standing building adjacent to the mentioned site (see page 4) to be used in any form required by the proposed tender. The retail element of the facility will be supplemented with a flexible shared use agreement of the community/classroom facility. The offer will also include identified additional opportunities to develop workshop facilities adjacent to the site for the production of art, craft and heritage based products and activities. The successful organization will need to demonstrate the capacity to reinvest any surplus profit directly associated with trading activities on the site back into further development of the project.Option 2:For a suitable, not for profit organisation to apply for the lease of the existing greenhouse facility at Cyfarthfa Park together with the refurbished Bothy which will include a retail outlet. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the offer will also include the development of a lone-standing building adjacent to the mentioned site to be used in any form required by the proposed tender The greenhouse facility has an existing tenant, MTCBC Social Regeneration Department. It is anticipated that the existing tenant will remain in occupation based on the existing use of the facilities, but become a sub tenant of the leaseholder.The offer will also include identified additional opportunities to develop workshop facilities adjacent to the site for the production of art, craft and heritage based products and activities. The successful organization will need to demonstrate the capacity to reinvest any surplus profit directly associated with trading activities on the site back into further development of the project.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at http://www.sell2wales.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=2657.