Consultancy firm wins major N.Wales projects.

THECaernarfon office of national property and construction consultancy Wakemans has won a series of development and building surveying projects which could be worth pounds 150m over the next five years.

The firm has been appointed on phase two of the Bala's rural life centredevelopment - a pounds 500,000 expansion programme involving the construction of a new canopy over the amphitheatre, a bigger office area and new toilets.

Read Construction, the contractor on the original development, has also been reappointed on these latest works and Wakemans' client, environment and culture development agency, Antur Penllyn, has obtained additional funding from the Arts Council of Wales.

Wakemans has a seven year partnering contract with Gwynedd County Council and their plans to transfer the housing stock to a private company will create the opportunity to bid for works valued at pounds 30m per annum over five years.

Wakemans is also acted as quantity surveyor on a pounds 500,000 development at Tywyn School. Gwynedd Council secured a grant from the Welsh Assembly to build an extension to the music block, including a new sound proof room, plus fitting out with equipment. Contractor J & S Seddon of Bangor has just completed the project.

In Menai Bridge Wakemans was appointed by Anglesey County Council to oversee planned maintenance valued at pounds 770,000. The programme focused on the external refurbishment of council-owned properties to bring them in line with the Welsh Quality Housing Standard.

In Abersoch, Wakemans is appointed on a pounds 500,000 residential development - while in Bangor it is acting as designer and CDM co-ordinator on a new nursery at Glancegin School. Wakemans has worked on similar projects in Tremadog and Felinheli.

Wakemans managing director John Woodhall said: "There is no doubt that the economic slowdown is having an impact on the construction industry in Wales, but we have excellent relationships with many local authorities and are winning new development projects on the strength of our ongoing building surveying work.

"We have been investing to develop our team and expand the range of services we offer to ensure we continue to provide the very best standards of service."