Cynefin
Green Heart of Wales
A truly transformational capital redevelopment project – to build the Green Heart of Wales.
Cynefin is CAT’s next step
It’s a £25.3m redevelopment project that will strengthen our home in Mid Wales – as a world-class, hands-on hub for environmental education where people and nature can thrive.
Part-funded through the Mid Wales Growth Deal and matched by generous supporters, Cynefin will be delivered in stages as further funding is secured.
The project will enhance the visitor experience, expand spaces for learning and skills, create secure green jobs, and support Wales’s journey to net zero.
Rooted in a 50-year legacy of environmental leadership in Wales, Cynefin will deepen the impact of CAT’s mission. It will allow us to expand our reach; to get more people learning by doing; and to improve our resilience as a charity.
It will enable our vision for a vibrant, inclusive and inspiring CAT that supports a just transition to a zero-carbon future – delivered from our home in the regenerated Llwyngwern quarry in Mid Wales.
Cynefin
[kuh-neh-vin]
Noun
A place of deep connection and belonging; where the green landscape that surrounds us feels like home.
The Project – at a glance
Cynefin will:
- Create inspiring new learning facilities to deliver skills for the future.
- Transform the visitor offer into a flagship sustainable tourist attraction.
- Enhance CAT’s accommodation capacity and facilities.
- Provide high-value and secure jobs in the region.
The project will be delivered in phases as funding is secured, in conjunction with the Mid Wales Growth Deal.
Our careful, transparent approach will see practical upgrades and targeted new works – each designed to improve the site today while preparing for tomorrow.
Early works are already in design; with later phases progressing as business cases and funding are confirmed.
Cynefin Phase 1
Through the reimagining of the Quarry Cottages, the Straw Bale Theatre, and the WISE Building, CAT is revitalising key spaces across its site – blending heritage, sustainability, and innovation to create future-proof, inspiring environments for learning and connection.
An estimated £3 million investment, 52% funded by the Mid Wales Growth Deal. Final scope and timings subject to approvals.
Quarry Cottages
CAT’s historic Quarry Cottages will be redeveloped into exemplar sustainable group accommodation for up to 30 guests. Using CAT’s onsite resources and expertise in cutting-edge building standards, the project will honour the heritage of the quarry workers’ cottages while creating vibrant, accessible spaces for visiting groups to stay, connect, and reflect.
Straw Bale Theatre
The retrofit of CAT’s Straw Bale Theatre will breathe new life into this unique space, transforming it into a vibrant learning hub for school and other visiting groups of up to 30 learners.
Nestled between wild gardens, ponds, and woodland, a new outdoor classroom will provide a safe and stimulating space for play and exploration.
WISE Building
A renewal and reimagining of one of CAT’s most iconic and architecturally significant structures. Originally constructed in 2010 using innovative sustainable design, the building has weathered the challenges of experimental design. This ambitious renovation will restore and future-proof the space – enhancing its solar performance and unlocking new possibilities for events and learning.
Project Phase 2
Project Phase 2 will see CAT reopen as a flagship sustainable visitor attraction – once again leading the way in sustainable tourism for Mid Wales. It will:
- Reopen CAT as a refreshed visitor destination, with an improved arrival experience and revitalised interpretation to bring climate solutions to life.
- Renew the much-loved water-balanced funicular railway, enhancing sustainability access to the site.
- Create flexible spaces for practical learning, demonstrations and community events.
- Reimagine CAT’s garden landscapes – celebrating food, play and our place in nature.
Future Phases
Future project phases will focus on equipping people with skills for the future.
From a transformation of CAT’s learning spaces into a state-of-the-art skills hub through to new facilities for welcoming learners to CAT and hosting residential volunteers, later project phases will enhance CAT’s ability to lead the way in sustainable skills provision for years to come.
Why Cynefin matters
Cynefin is designed to make an impact in Machynlleth, across Wales, and the world. But how?
- It will create good, green jobs and stronger partnerships that support the economy in Mid Wales.
- It will allow more people to gain the skills needed to build a fairer, zero-carbon future for Wales.
- It will operate as a living laboratory – a place that designs and tests climate solutions in real time. Rooted in Wales and shared with the world.
What is the Mid Wales Growth Deal?
The Mid Wales Growth Deal, part of the broader Vision for Growing Mid Wales, is a long-term £110 million joint investment from the UK and Welsh Governments to deliver regionally significant economic infrastructure, stimulate private and public investment, create long-term jobs, and increase productivity to drive sustainable growth across key sectors like tourism, energy, and digital infrastructure.
CAT’s Cynefin project aligns closely with the Growth Deal’s vision, offering a place-based, community-led response to climate and ecological challenges. As the Growth Deal moves into its delivery phase, Cynefin contributes to a greener, more resilient Mid Wales through the provision of green skills and high-quality jobs.
A key requirement of the Growth Deal is the ability to secure match funding, which ensures that public investment is leveraged to deliver greater impact. CAT is one of the few organisations in the region with the capacity and credibility to draw down this level of match funding, making it a vital delivery partner for ambitious, high-value capital projects like Cynefin.
Latest Cynefin News
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Mid Wales is a region of extraordinary natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and deep environmental significance. As we look to the future, it has the…
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Steve Witherden, Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, visited the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) today to learn more about the charities’ work sharing solutions to the climate and…
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The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) was proud to welcome the development team from Visit Wales for an all-staff meeting this week, marking a significant…
Have your say
Hearing thoughts and reflections from our wider community is extremely important to us. If you have ideas, thoughts about the plans or want to ask a question, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
The Cynefin project is supported by the Mid Wales Growth Deal, with additional match funding from:
- Congregation of Our Lady Canonesses of St Augustine
- Ethel and Gwynne Morgan Trust
- Hamamelis Trust
- Other generous CAT supporters
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