Market Arcade project awarded lottery funding

National Lottery funding has been awarded to support the restoration of Newport’s historic Market Arcade.Newport City Council has been awarded development funding of £177,300 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards progressing regeneration plans, with the longer term aim of breathing new life into the shopping thoroughfare.The initial investment will be used to develop a project plan for the arcade that will form the basis of a further application to the HLF later in the year.The grade II-listed Market Arcade was built in 1869 and originally known as Fennell’s Arcade. It formed a key pedestrian route between the railway station and the then new provisions market.HLF funding of £35,500 has also been awarded to Torfaen Council for a project to improve the condition of properties in Blaenavon.The Blaenavon Townscape Heritage Programme aims to tackle the poor condition of properties within the town’s main commercial area in Broad Street by offering grant support for conservation-based works.