New fund to improve Welsh town centres

The government has announced a £1.5million fund to revitalise Welsh town centres.

Brecon, Lampeter, Llandrindod Wells, Llandysul, Newtown and Tregaron are all set to benefit from new Welsh Government investment. Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Hannah Blythyn has announced £1.5 million of Welsh Government funding for a new £2.14 million Town Centre Property Investment Fund across Powys and Ceredigion councils.

The fund will bring vacant commercial, residential and retail space back into use across the 6 mid-Wales towns. The fund will be a package of support including loans, private investment and grants, and people applying will have to demonstrate that existing grant and loan finance options have been properly considered and exhausted before they seek funding via this route.

Hannah Blythyn said: “We want to support local businesses, grow our fantastic town centres and create job opportunities in mid Wales. Creating more good quality commercial and retail space will help with this, as will creating homes in the centre of our towns, so people can live and work centrally and contribute to the local economy.”

“This fund will help to create opportunities out of empty properties and attract more people to our town centres. I look forward to seeing some exciting refurbishments, and businesses growing and prospering across towns in Ceredigion and Powys as a result.”

Powys County Council will manage the administration of the programme. The Welsh Government funding is part of the Targeted Regeneration and Investment programme, which is providing £100 million of capital funding across the country over three years to support regeneration projects in town centres and neighbouring areas.

This funding is supported by an estimated further investment of at least £60 million from other organisations and businesses, providing an overall boost of £160 million to communities all over Wales.

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