The Grade II Listed Jennings Warehouse lies within the Bridgend Waterfront and Harbour regeneration areas and is a key catalyst supporting Bridgend Council’s aspirations for the wider regeneration of the town and waterside.

The brief from DS Properties and Bridgend County Borough Council to bring the derelict former warehouse back into useful life as a mixed use building. Using the model successfully developed through previous regeneration schemes, DS Properties and Ellis Williams Architects designed a series of interventions into the Listed Building fabric, and through a continuous process of dialogue with the local Conservation Officer we were able to maximise views into and out of the building while being respectful of the original fabric.

Loft-style residential units are situated in the upper areas and three new cafe/ restaurant units are provided at ground level facing onto the harbour with a large new outdoor seating terrace to the west facing the beach, and with a new glazed extension aspect to the town. All three businesses are start-ups by local entrepreneurs employing local workers, and were attracted to this building as a beacon of investment in Porthcawl.  Through the design and development process we have consulted local community groups and local and national Council representatives as well as CADW and the neighbouring Harbour Master and RNLI to understand the aspirations and sensitivities of the building.  The local community have already taken to the building as a focal point or destination on the harbour side which was missing previously.  It is hoped that this building will kick-start wider regeneration in the town.