Funding available to improve run-down shops

Owners of vacant and run-down shops in Bridgend town centre are to be targeted in a new scheme aimed at regenerating the area.

Bridgend County Borough Council has secured around £1m from the Welsh Government’s ‘Targeted Regeneration Investment’ (TRI) programme which can be applied for by property owners and long term tenants to give their premises a new lease of life.

The council will be actively marketing the available funding by canvassing all eligible properties within the town centre and will proactively engage with vacant property owners to support ambitions to being premises back into use.

Some TRI funding can already been seen in action through Coastal Housing Group’s ongoing redevelopment of the former McDonald’s on Nolton Street.

The scheme, which will provide 10 affordable new homes and up to three commercial units, has been supported by £304,366 TRI funding in addition to other Welsh Government grants.

The Welsh Government’s TRI programme is intended to build on the achievements of the Vibrant and Viable Places programme, which helped to fund the new Rhiw car park in Bridgend, and also ties in with our Empty Properties Strategy.

We look forward to working in conjunction with partners including the private sector and registered social landlords in order to deliver new projects that will make the town centre a more prosperous place. We are keen to engage with both commercial and retail premises, as well as owners with first floor opportunities for town centre living.

The short term benefits will see the enhancement and re-use of poor quality, unattractive, run down and dilapidated properties. In the long term, it will improve the physical appearance of the town centre, shops will become more vibrant, and the increased footfall will create more employment opportunities.”

Councillor Charles Smith, the council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration

The Targeted Regeneration Investment funding will be available for schemes in Bridgend town centre that can be delivered by March 2021.

For further details, please email regeneration@bridgend.gov.uk or call the council’s regeneration team on 01656 815209.