£5 million plans to revitalise Welsh towns are unveiled

The Welsh Government’s Placemaking Grant funding for the region will see an investment of £5.08 million to help revitalise towns in Powys and Ceredigion.

As part of the wider Transforming Towns regeneration programme, the Placemaking Grant is designed to offer broad and flexible support for a wide range of projects aimed at rejuvenating town centres.

Money has already been used to help the conversion of a former bank in Welshpool.

Projects that may be eligible for grant support can range from developing commercial and residential properties, developing town centre markets, improving public shared outdoor spaces, and the installation and exploitation of digital infrastructure. Projects will need to demonstrate links to town plans and show how they benefit the town centre.

Councillor David Selby, Powys County Council cabinet member for a more prosperous Powys, said: “The placemaking funding received last year has already been put to good use making improvements. Grants were awarded to many businesses and organisations to help them make changes to aid the town centres' post-Covid recovery.

“Our attention is firmly on supporting our town centres, ensuring that they remain safe and resilient, now and into the future. This new injection of investment will go even further to ensuring our beautiful Mid Wales towns are revitalised and remain a thriving place to live, work and visit.”

Councillor Clive Davies, Ceredigion County Council cabinet member for economy and regeneration said: “The Placemaking Grant is an excellent opportunity for private and public stakeholders to access funds to be a catalyst for change in our town centres across Mid Wales, to make improvements in their unique sense of place and create social and economically sustainable communities.”

The Welsh Government’s deputy minister for climate change, Lee Waters, said: “We are committed to making our towns and cities even better places to live, work and visit. The Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant is helping to revitalise the hearts of these local communities.

“Town centres face many challenges which have only been made worse by the pandemic, and it is our priority to make sure they thrive and protect them against the effects of climate change.

“We have been able to support a number of excellent projects in Mid Wales, including the refurbishment of a town centre property in Aberystwyth and the conversion of a former bank in Welshpool.”

The Placemaking Grant is available to private businesses, including developers, third sector businesses, and the public sector. For more information and details of how to apply, visit https://growinpowys.com/transforming-towns and www.ceredigion.gov.uk/business/funding-grants/transforming-towns-place-making-grant