More than £19 million to breathe new life into Welsh town centres

Mwy na £19 miliwn i roi bywyd newydd i ganol trefi Cymru

More than £19.6 million in Welsh Government funding is set to revitalise town centres across Wales, delivering transformative regeneration projects that will create thriving spaces for communities to live, work and enjoy.

Local authorities right across Wales will receive grant funding through the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns and Placemaking programmes to tackle empty properties, enhance public spaces and drive economic growth in communities that need it most.

Among the projects receiving support, Ceredigion County Council will benefit from up to £2.3 million to create a Culture and Community zone within Aberystwyth's historic Old College building, led by Aberystwyth University.

Cyngor Gwynedd has secured almost £1 million for the Bangor Empty Property Initiative, whilst Swansea Council has received more than £650,000 in grant and loan funding for the commercial and retail elements of the Biophilic Living development.

The Biophilic Living scheme represents a landmark investment in Swansea city centre, providing 50 affordable rental homes alongside retail and commercial space. The Welsh Government has invested more than £15 million to this innovative project, which integrates nature-inspired design into urban living.

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, said: "Town centres are the heart and soul of Welsh communities – places where people come together, where local businesses thrive, and where our sense of community is strongest.

"It's fantastic to see a further £19.6 million of funding being invested in projects right across Wales that will breathe new life into our high streets, support local traders, and create the vibrant, welcoming spaces that our communities deserve.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

The below table outlines the funding included in the £19.6 million:

Local Authority	Grant funding allocated	Project
Ceredigion County Council	Up to £2,306,000	To support the delivery of Culture and Community zone within the Old College project led by Aberystwyth University.
Caerphilly County Borough Council	Up to £203,500	To continue delivery of the wider Placemaking Plan objectives by the Multi-Disciplinary Team.
Caerphilly County Borough Council	Up to £2,600,000	To support the delivery of Phase 2 – Streets and Open Spaces Strategy.
Local authorities across southwest Wales	Up to £2,500,000	To deliver the Placemaking Grant programme in 2025-26 (in addition to the £3 million already awarded)
Pembrokeshire County Council	Up to £100,000	To support works at 16-18 Bridge Street, Haverfordwest.
Conwy County Borough Council	Up to £850,570	To enable works to bring long-term empty spaces in town centres back into use as residential units.
Isle of Anglesey County Council	Up to £920,000	To refurbish the Marine Terminal in Amlwch to provide business accommodation.
Swansea Council	Up to £559,321	To support The Biophilic Living Scheme in Swansea
Cyngor Gwynedd	Up to £996,115	To support the Bangor Empty Property Initiative project.
Bridgend County Borough Council	Up to £600,000	To create a new events space on the Hillsboro South site in Porthcawl.
Wrexham County Borough Council	Up to £3,000,000	To support the development of improved public space and connectivity at the new Wrexham Museum Regent Street Gateway.
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council	Up to £840,000	For the redesign of public realm outside the Southern entrance of the Aberafan Shopping Centre.
Cyngor Gwynedd	Up to £450,992	To support the acquisition of the Canonry building in Bangor
Swansea Council	Up to £1,367,100	To support the redevelopment of Mowbray Yard, Swansea.
Pembrokeshire County Council	Up to £1,277,040	To support the redevelopment of the former Wilko, Haverfordwest.
Bridgend County Borough Council	Up to £1,786,315	To support the acquisition and refurbishment of Wyndham House, Bridgend.
Local authorities in North Wales	Up to £265,000	To deliver additional Placemaking Grant projects in 2025-26.
TOTAL	£19,626,949