The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced that several projects across Wales are being allocated significant funding to help level up communities.
With the aim of driving economic growth, spreading equality, and creating jobs, the government is allocating £111 million from the Levelling Up Fund to projects across Port Talbot, Barry, Powys, and more. This funding will build on previous investment in Wales, coming from sources such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Long-Term Plan for Towns, and Freeports and takes the amount of investment for local growth in Wales to more than £1.2 billion.
Michael Gove, Levelling Up Secretary, said:
“Levelling Up means delivering local people’s priorities and bringing transformational change in communities that have, for too long, been overlooked and undervalued.
“Today we are backing 55 projects across the UK with £1 billion to create new jobs and opportunities, power economic growth, and revitalise local areas.
“This funding sits alongside our wider initiatives to spread growth, through devolving more money and power out of Westminster to towns and cities, putting in place bespoke interventions to places that need it most, and our long-term plan for towns.”
The projects that have been awarded the funding are:
- Powys - £18 million to encourage healthier travel through the restoration of footbridges and cycling improvements.
- Barry Dock - £20 million to transform a site on the waterfront into a new, vibrant public area.
- Llanelli – More than £15 million to renovating derelict buildings improving green spaces in the town centre.
- Denbighshire - £20 million to regenerate town centres and create more community centres in areas around Denbighshire, as well as improving cycle and footpaths.
- Newbridge bridge - £12 million to restore and reopen the Newbridge Bridge to cyclists and pedestrians, whilst also upgrading Newbridge Road and Riverside Road.
- Port Talbot - £15 million to regenerate the town centre, with this improving Civic Square, green space improvements, and the refurbishment of the Princess Royal Theatre.
- Pembroke - £10 million for public accessibility improvements across the town, with these focusing on Westgate, Eastgate, and the general environment.
Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies added:
“This is another hugely significant investment in transformative projects across Wales. From town centre regeneration to improving travel infrastructure, these schemes will have a positive impact for generations to come.
“The UK Government continues to invest in communities throughout Wales as we work towards our aims of growing the Welsh economy and levelling up the UK.”
Image credit: iStock
