County not part of Wales funding windfall

Eleven local councils across Wales have picked up their share of a £100 million funding package to finance regeneration projects – and Denbighshire is not amongst them.

Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Carl Sargeant, has just announced the cash windfall through the Welsh Government’s regeneration grant, Vibrant and Viable Places.

The total funding has been extended to £100 million over three years and so each of the 11 local authorities invited to submit detailed bids will receive funding of up to £15 million.

Successful local authorities are Bridgend, Conwy, Flintshire, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and Wrexham.

The funding will be used for various regeneration projects - helping to create jobs, tackle poverty, increase housing supply and improve community facilities.

According to the BBC, Wrexham will pick up £10.6 million while Flintshire will get £6 million and Conwy £12 million.

The Minister said: “Despite the cuts imposed on us by the UK Government, this substantial funding is further evidence of how the Welsh Government is committed to supporting the people of Wales.

“These worthy projects will make a real difference to their communities and I’m delighted with the quality of the bids received.

“Many of the successful bids focus on the regeneration of town centres, which is about a lot more than filling empty shops. It is about creating a diverse and vibrant town centre with other services such as leisure, health and education at its heart and making the town centre an attractive place to live.

“Increasing housing supply is my number one priority and these successful bids will build on and complement the excellent regeneration work in evidence across Wales through our Houses into Homes and Social Housing Grant schemes.”