TURF was cut to mark the start of a long-awaited healthcare, leisure and research development in Carmarthenshire on March 6.

The £200 million Pentre Awel scheme at Delta Lakes will feature a new Llanelli Leisure Centre and include housing, a hotel, and education and business space.

It was one of several projects singled out by Cllr Alun Lenny, Plaid Cymru’s cabinet member for resources, before councillors voted to approve a £151.1million capital budget for 2023-24.

Pentre Awel will comprise five buildings, and will be funded by the council, the Welsh and UK Governments, and other public and private sector partners.

Cllr Lenny confirmed the contract for zone one of Pentre Awel, worth £86million, had been signed.

Meanwhile, £10.3million is being allocated to the Carmarthen Hub project at the town’s vacant Debenhams building. It will house the county’s art collection, the council’s customer service hub, and retail units. The majority of the money – £8.4 million – is coming via the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The council is earmarking £17.8million to another long-awaited project – the Towy Valley cycle path between Carmarthen and Llandeilo – in the coming financial year. Just over £6 million of this is from the authority; the rest from the UK Government.

There will also be a £1.9 million investment in a new Amman Valley Leisure Centre 3G pitch, £4.1 million towards the new Ysgol Penbre, Pembrey, and £1.7 million on an upgrade of Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen.

Labour’s shadow cabinet for resources, Cllr Kevin Madge, said he welcomed the proposed expenditure but warned that overspends on big projects could “blow the whole capital programme to bits”.

He said he wanted to see quicker progress on a new school for Ammanford, and more investment generally in the Amman Valley and Gwendraeth Valley.

Cllr Colin Evans said the existing pitches and running track at Amman Valley Leisure Centre were tired and past their sell-by date, while Cllr Neil Lewis said residents were desperate for progress on the Towy Valley cycle path. “I think it will be transformative, he said.

The capital expenditure for the coming year also includes £10million to draw up plans for and design eight new schools. Cllr Glynog Davies, cabinet member for education and Welsh language, said land had been acquired for a much-anticipated new school in Ammanford and that options for financing it were being considered. A new school was, he said, a priority.

Capital schemes totalling £151.1m approved by Carmarthenshire Council for 2023-24 include:

Pentre Awel healthcare and leisure development – £43.4m

Towy Valley cycle path – £17.8m

Carmarthen Hub – £10.3m

Design work for eight new schools – £10m

Refuse vehicles and roll-out of new kerbside collection service – £4.7m

The new Ysgol Penbre – £4.1m

Commercial property development fund – £2.5m

Highways, including drainage, lighting and bridges – £2.2m

Amman Valley Leisure Centre 3G pitch – £1.9m

County Hall – £1.6m

Ten Towns growth plan – £1m

Flood mitigation and management – £700,000