New funding to improve neighbourhoods

Cardiff will receive funding from the UK Government Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Cardiff residents are set to benefit from a share of £214 million of UK Government funding.

‘Pride in Place’ funding was launched by the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer and aims to support high street regeneration and community improvements.

Cardiff is one of nine local authorities in Wales which will receive up to £20 million along with Blaenau Gwent, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Conwy and Swansea.

Residents will be able use the funds to save treasured pubs or libraries, revitalise their high streets and clean up eyesores in their area - they can and also decide how the money is spent.

The capital will also receive a share of £34.5 million in capital funding allocated to all Welsh councils for upgrades to public spaces and local facilities, though the exact amount has not been specified.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it’s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best – the people with real skin in the game.

“We’re choosing renewal over decline, unity over division. This is or Plan for Change in action – giving power and pride back to the people who make Britain great.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens, who is also Labour MP for Cardiff East, said this was part of the UK Governments focus on “delivering economic growth” adding that the new investment “will see improvements made to communities up and down Wales making them even greater places to live and work”.

Welsh local authorities will be invited to propose the communities within their areas to participate in the Pride in Place Programme for UK Government approval.

This will be an “inclusive process” where local authorities will engage with local stakeholders including MPs, MSs and the Welsh Government to ensure “local fit” and “alignment with existing schemes” such as placemaking plans and the Transforming Towns initiative.