Funding to regenerate projects across Monmouthshire

Some £2 million in Welsh Government funding will be available for regeneration projects in towns across Monmouthshire. 

The cash is available from the Welsh Government’s transforming towns fund and Monmouthshire County Council’s Labour-led cabinet has agreed an indicative programme for how the money will be spent. 

But its deputy leader Paul Griffiths said how the cash is ultimately used is a joint decision with the local towns. 

He said: “The decisions taken are not by cabinet but shared decisions with town councillors, businesess and councillors.” 

Six town centres in Monmouthshire are eligible for transforming towns funding and they are Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow, Magor with Undy, Monmouth and Usk. 

To qualify for the funds the Welsh Government requires placemaking plans, that set out a vision for the town centre, the challenges and opportunities, and proposed actions and interventions to be in place. A document for Usk has already been agreed and plans for the other towns expected to be adopted later this year. 

It is intended the funding through to 2027 will continue to be used, as funds from 2022 to 2025 were, on improvements to buildings in town centres and small scale public realm improvements. 

Initial projects that have been identified for support include small improvements to public areas in Caldicot town centre described as “quick wins”, improving the St Mary’s Priory walkway in Chepstow, the Square in Magor, the bus station in Monmouth, Tywyn Square in Usk and Gabb Square in Abergavenny. 

The projects could change when the placemaking plans are published and in line with locally identified priorities while money will also be available to bring empty town centre buildings back into use. 

The council said it has previously used the funds for projects including to install steps between the Dell, Chepstow town centre and the castle, supporting improvements to Church Road, Caldicot and improving the footpath in Magor and Undy as well as improving buildings in Abergavenny,

Caldicot and Chepstow including the Drill Hall and converting the former NatWest bank in Monmouth to flats and an improved ground floor retail space that is expected to be leased shortly.