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Assembly 'committed' to jobs move Assembly 'committed' to jobs move
(about 4 hours later)
First Minister Rhodri Morgan has said ministers remain "absolutely committed" to relocating hundreds of posts to north Wales, the BBC has learnt.First Minister Rhodri Morgan has said ministers remain "absolutely committed" to relocating hundreds of posts to north Wales, the BBC has learnt.
A new building near Llandudno Junction to accommodate 600 assembly government staff was due to be open in late 2008. A new building near Llandudno Junction to accommodate 650 assembly government staff was due to be open in late 2008.
But in June it emerged that construction work on the building had been delayed. But the assembly government said there was "a short delay" for re-tendering.Costs had risen in a move to make the building more environmentally-friendly.
An announcement on the project is expected from the assembly government in the next few days. Work on new £20m office in Aberystwyth is expected to start next month.
In a letter to the leader of Conwy Council Goronwy Edwards which has been seen by BBC Wales, First Minister Rhodri Morgan said the assembly government remained absolutely committed to the project. A review into the project for the new Conwy office looked at improvements using green technology towards making it "carbon zero".
Mr Morgan said: ?Enhancements relative to the original specification have pushed up the overall costs to the point where a fresh procurement process is now required, and that means a change to the construction timetable.? said the First Minister
He added that the assembly government remained absolutely committed to the project.
?I want to reassure the people of north Wales that the Llandudno Junction office will commence as soon as the new procurement process has been completed," he said.
?This short delay will ensure that our staff working in the new north Wales office will benefit from a working environment of the very highest standard."
However, Mr Morgan did say that the decision on the way forward had taken longer than expected.However, Mr Morgan did say that the decision on the way forward had taken longer than expected.
The new base is intended to raise the profile of the assembly government in north Wales.The new base is intended to raise the profile of the assembly government in north Wales.
It is to be built on the former Hotpoint site with 600 people expected to work there, of whom 160 will be transferred from Cardiff. It is to be built on the former Hotpoint site with a total of 650 people expected to work there, of whom 160 will be transferred from Cardiff.
They include staff from departments for children, education, economy, transport and health and social Services.
'Pause and review''Pause and review'
HBG Construction Ltd was given the main contract to design and build the new office in May last year.HBG Construction Ltd was given the main contract to design and build the new office in May last year.
The assembly government estimated then that the cost would be less than £20m.The assembly government estimated then that the cost would be less than £20m.
But in June, a spokesperson said: "A pause and review on the contract was put in place in February 2007 to look carefully at the emerging costs of the more detailed design of the building and to ensure the specification precisely met requirements. But a review began in February and news of the delay emerged in June.
"This is not unusual for a large-scale construction contract of this nature. The Aberystwyth office will accommodate staff from the assembly's rural affairs and heritage and economy and transport departments, as well as workers from the Forestry Commission and the Countryside Council for Wales.
"This pause and review is now coming to a close and advice will be put to ministers shortly on what, if any, changes should be made to the existing design and the construction timetable." The work at Ffordd Parc-y-Llyn is expected to be finished in spring 2009, and the building, which will house 535 staff, is set to open for business that summer.