Major Milestone Reached for Rivertown Community Hub

A significant milestone has been achieved for the Rivertown “Hope on the High Street” project in Shotton.

Gareth Morris Construction Ltd, a well-established North Wales contractor based in Pontfadog near Llangollen, has been appointed as the main contractor, and construction works now underway on site from Monday 29th June 2026.

The ambitious, multi-million-pound redevelopment of Rivertown United Reformed Church will transform the building into a modern, vibrant community hub, bringing together a wide range of services and organisations to support local residents.

The project is a powerful example of successful partnership working. Flintshire County Council’s Regeneration Team has supported the development of the scheme since 2023, working alongside the Rivertown Project Partnership Group and other key stakeholders to help shape the project and secure funding.

This collaborative approach has helped the partnership group secure over £2 million of investment, including a £750,000 award from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme, enabling the project to move forward into delivery. More than £1 million has been donated from private sources including the Moondance Foundation, the Benefact Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Oakdale Trust, the Parc Adfer Community Benefit Fund and the United Reformed Church Wales Synod.

To allow construction to progress, Rivertown has recently relocated its activities to the former Bryn Tirion School, ensuring continuity of its valued community services and activities during the build period, which is expected to take approximately 44 weeks, with completion anticipated by April 2027.

Chris Atherton, Project Lead for Rivertown, said:

“This is a hugely exciting moment for everyone involved in Rivertown. Over the past few years, we’ve worked tirelessly with our partners to turn our shared vision into a reality. The support we’ve received - particularly from Flintshire County Council - has been instrumental in helping us secure the funding and confidence needed to move forward.

“As we begin work on site and continue our activities from Bryn Tirion, we remain committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive space that will serve the whole community for many years to come.”

Chris Dolphin, Cabinet Member for Environment, Regeneration, Countryside and Tourism, said:

“This is a fantastic example of what strong partnership working can achieve. The Council has been pleased to support the Rivertown project since 2023, helping to bring forward a scheme that will deliver real benefits for the Shotton community.

“Securing over £2 million in funding, including significant Welsh Government investment, is a major achievement. This new community hub will play a key role in strengthening local services, supporting wellbeing and contributing to the ongoing regeneration of the town centre.”