Nine Welsh neighbourhoods to be revitalised with £180 million in funding
Nine neighbourhoods at the heart of Welsh life have been named as the recipients of up to £20 million each in UK Government funding to restore pride in their area and open doors to new opportunities.
In September last year, the UK Government announced that the Pride in Place Programme would see £180 million shared among nine local authorities over 10 years to target areas which can benefit most from a wide range of regeneration projects.
For the first time, the communities within those areas where the money will be invested are now being revealed.
This money will empower local people to tackle the issues that are blighting their communities – whether that’s cleaning up graffiti, saving treasured community institutions or tackling anti-social behaviour.
On top of this every local authority in Wales will receive a share of £34.5 million of capital funding to improve their public spaces, including fixing broken bus shelters, reopening park toilets, more bins to help stop litter and revamping run-down leisure centres
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens will mark the announcement by visiting one of the areas allocated funding, Tredegar in Blaenau Gwent, to hear from members of the community on how the money could be spent.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “We are directly backing our communities with this significant investment. People living in these areas are in control of this funding and now have the support to make them even better places to live and work.
“The UK Government focused on delivering jobs, prosperity and growth and the Pride in Place programme is a key part of us doing that. Working in partnership with Welsh Government we’re investing directly in Welsh communities to build stronger, thriving neighbourhoods.”
Councillor John Morgan, Cabinet Member for Economy & Place at Blaenau Gwent Council said: “This is fantastic news for the Sirhowy Valley. The funding will make a real difference to our communities and fits in with our wider regeneration plans for the area.
“The Blaenau Gwent Deal, our new way of working with communities, means we are listening to local people and businesses about their needs, so having a Neighbourhood Board involved in making decisions fully supports this.”
Conwy Council Leader Julie Fallon said: “I am delighted that the UK Government has agreed Tudno and Mostyn wards in Llandudno will receive Pride in Place funding. This investment will make a lasting difference in this community, which is amongst some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country.
“It will help to improve the places people live and work, and create new opportunities for residents who deserve to see meaningful change.”
Neighbourhood Boards, made up of representatives from the local community, will now decide exactly what the investment will be spent on. These will now be established, with funding starting from April 2026.
Projects could include revitalising high streets and town centres, preserving local heritage, providing housing, creating jobs, boosting productivity and skills, improving health and well-being, creating new transport links, providing education and opportunity and improving safety and security.
The neighbourhoods to receive the funding of up to £20 million are:
- Blaenau Gwent: Sirhowy Valley
- Caerphilly: Bargoed, Aberbargoed and New Tredegar
- Cardiff: Ely & Caerau
- Carmarthenshire: Llanelli
- Conwy: Llandudno
- Neath Port Talbot: Upper Afan Valley
- Newport: Newport city centre
- Rhondda Cynon Taf: Rhondda Fach
- Swansea: High Street and Dyfatty
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
So one town in north Wales and nothing for mid-Wales. Diolch.
two towns – Conwy and Llandudno, or are they now being treated as a single entity!
Swansea High Street and Dyfatty???????
I certainly hope so! I pass them every day and they are a desperate eyesore!
£180m over 10 years split between 9 areas is not very much in the grand scheme of things.
It’s also only a temporary boost. The new bins, benches and flower pots will soon start to look tatty. There will be no permanent uplift because central government wants to keep the wealth and opportunity in south east England.
Hard Luck Gwynedd…Blaenau could do with a leg up…Rhun right this wrong and check for vote rigging…
Upon my travels over 10 years across wales valleys there is many many towns in of funding .. era after the mining /quarry’s now closes an resouce industry mills can’t turn a profit .. hotels being unfair taxes increasing so add cost on visitors too … Easy 10% more expensive to visit wales this year !! Go figure . Visited one such town in North Wales recently railway town in much dis-repair. With all most all the cafes dealing cash only !! Go figure…
Nothing for Cwm Cynon and nothing for neighbouring Merthyr. Suddenly these places aren’t deprived enough to qualify for support.
It isn’t much at all over 10 years, almost like pocket money for the council to squander. We have seen this time and time again, money being wasted trying to revitalise town centres. It shouldn’t be hard to understand, but councils fail to do so, that the High Street has changed with the Internet. The only way to bring life back into such centres is to incorporate residential premises with the shopping area. To have places like late night coffee shops, entertainment, etc within residential areas and to add a lot more green spaces. This money will be wasted unless… Read more »