£12.8m To Regenerate Town Centres And Create Jobs

Twelve regeneration projects are set to receive a £12.8m boost, creating more than 400 new jobs, 50 traineeships and over 220 new homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister, Lesley Griffiths, has today announced projects including the creation of 16 two-bedroom flats in Holyhead town centre, a new employment hub on the Kingsway in Swansea and a family entertainment zone on the Rhyl waterfront are set to benefit from the significant Vibrant and Viable Places funding boost. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The additional funding brings the total investment in the Welsh Government’s flagship regeneration scheme to £118 million. A recent report found, between 2014 – 17, the programme will create more than 2,000 jobs, support 3,000 people into work and bring a further £300 million into Wales. It is also expected to provide 1,000 affordable homes and more than 2,300 homes in the private sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Minister said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This additional £12.8m is a huge boost to twelve key regeneration projects across Wales which will make a very real difference to their local communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as improving important local services, the funding will create hundreds of jobs and traineeships and boost Wales’ housing supply. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Welsh Government is committed to creating jobs, supporting the economy and increasing housing supply and our flagship VVP programme is at the very heart of our efforts.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The local authorities who will receive the additional Vibrant and Viable Places funding are Anglesey, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Swansea, Torfaen and Wrexham. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​