£110M town centre regeneration programme launched

The Welsh Government has launched an infrastructure investment programme worth more than £110M, designed to revitalise town centres across Wales.

Housing and Regeneration Minister Rebecca Evans visited Pontypridd to launch the programme, Building for the Future. Pontypridd will be the first town to benefit, with some £10M of funding announced for the town’s Taff Vale development.

Building for the Future has been developed by the Government to help assist in the regeneration of town centres and their surrounding areas, by refurbishing or redeveloping derelict or under-used land and buildings and bringing them back to life, supporting business growth, creating employment and increasing footfall. The multi-million pound programme is supported by £38M from the European Regional Development Fund and £16M from the Welsh Government’s own targeted match fund.

The programme builds on the work of the Ministerial Taskforce for the South Wales Valleys and the priorities highlighted in the Our Valleys, Our Future delivery plan, including a commitment to close the employment gap between the South Wales Valleys and the rest of Wales.

Pontypridd will see the former Taff Vale Shopping Centre site transformed to create three distinctive buildings, housing community facilities, library and gym. The site itself has lain derelict for many years, and the development will create a vibrant new quarter in the centre of the town.

The £10M investment from the Welsh Government includes £7M of EU funding.

Rebecca Evans, from Valleys Taskforce, visited the site to see how the development is progressing. She said: “The Taff Vale project demonstrates how we are meeting our Valleys Taskforce ambitions to create jobs, boost the construction industry and revitalise town centres. Transport for Wales, the next rail franchise and South Wales Metro operator, will be based in the development. It will transform the centre of Pontypridd and is currently the largest single development project in the town. It’s exciting to see these fantastic buildings start to take shape.

“Through Building for the Future we are supporting local authorities and private and third sector partners to acquire, refurbish or redevelop unused buildings and land close to town and city centres. They will identify how these buildings could be used, including for commercial, public sector and residential purposes. We will work with local authorities and building users to target and offer employment and training opportunities to people seeking work.

“Building for the Future will re-energise our town centres and create some bright opportunities for people and businesses up and down the country. It’s great to see this work is already underway in Pontypridd.”

 

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