Millions pledged to revive Welsh centres — Swansea, Port Talbot, Haverfordwest, Porthcawl and Bridgend among winners

Town and city centres across Wales are in line for a major facelift after the Welsh Government unveiled a £19.6m cash package. The funding, part of the Transforming Towns and Placemaking programmes, will target empty shops, tired public spaces and stalled developments — with South West Wales councils among the biggest winners.

Swansea’s Biophilic Living gets fresh cash

Swansea Council has secured more than £559,000 for the commercial and retail elements of the flagship Biophilic Living scheme, which promises 50 affordable homes alongside shops and offices in a nature‑inspired design.

A further £1.36m is earmarked for the Mowbray Yard redevelopment, creating a new green courtyard space in the heart of the city centre.

Port Talbot facelift for Aberafan Shopping Centre

In Port Talbot, up to £840,000 will fund a redesign of the public realm outside the southern entrance of the Aberafan Shopping Centre, aiming to boost footfall and modernise the tired frontage.

Haverfordwest Wilko site transformed

Pembrokeshire County Council will receive more than £1.27m to redevelop the former Wilko store in Haverfordwest, part of the Western Quayside regeneration. A smaller grant of £100,000 will also support works at 16‑18 Bridge Street.

Porthcawl seafront gets new events space

Bridgend Council has secured £600,000 to create a new events space on the Hillsboro South site in Porthcawl, a key part of the seafront regeneration plans.

Wyndham House overhaul for Bridgend town centre

Bridgend will also benefit from £1.78m to acquire and refurbish Wyndham House, with housing association Valleys to Coast planning to transform the building into its new HQ alongside apartments and commercial units.

Welsh Government hails “heart and soul” of communities

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government Jayne Bryant said the funding would “breathe new life into our high streets, support local traders, and create the vibrant, welcoming spaces that our communities deserve.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

City Centre ‘Biophilic Swansea’ scheme ‘a first for the UK’
Landmark Biophilic Living project promises homes, shops and offices built around nature-inspired design.

New city centre courtyard to honour late council officer Huw Mowbray
Swansea Council begins work on Mowbray Yard, a green courtyard space due for completion in 2026.

Aberavon Shopping Centre regeneration coverage
Updates and stories on Port Talbot’s busiest retail hub, including plans for a public realm facelift.

Haverfordwest ‘Western Quayside’ project gets underway
Bold redevelopment of the former department store site aims to transform the riverside area.

Valleys to Coast unveils plans to transform Bridgend town centre building
Wyndham House set to become housing association HQ alongside apartments and commercial units.

Port Talbot Bodycare store to close as retailer shuts 32 shops across UK

The retailer, which sells beauty products, fragrances and bathroom items, has confirmed around 450 of its 1,500‑strong workforce will be made redundant as a result of the closures. Four stores in Wales are affected — in Port Talbot, Newport, Rhyl and Wrexham.

Founded in 1970 in Lancashire, Bodycare said it had been hit by rising costs, delays in moving to a new online retail platform, and cost‑of‑living pressures on shoppers. The company also cited a funding shortfall after abandoning a planned stock market listing last year, which it said damaged supplier relationships and led to stock shortages.

Administrators from advisory firm Interpath have been appointed and are exploring a potential rescue sale of the business and its assets. The majority of Bodycare’s 147 UK stores will continue trading for now.

Nick Holloway, joint administrator and managing director at Interpath, said:

“These remain challenging times for high street retailers as rising costs and reduced consumer spending continue to weigh heavily on trading. Unfortunately for Bodycare, which was also contending with a significant funding gap and increasing creditor pressure, these challenges proved too difficult to overcome.”

He added that support would be provided to staff affected by redundancy, including help with claims to the redundancy payments service.

#AberavonShoppingCentre #administration #Bodycare #Interpath #retail #storeClosure

Chancellor and First Minister meet communities facing change in Neath Port Talbot

Residents of Neath Port Talbot had the chance to speak directly with two of the UK’s most senior politicians this week, as Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan toured key sites in the county to see how communities are responding to industrial change.

The visit began at the former Dyffryn Rhondda Colliery in the Upper Afan Valley, where Neath Port Talbot Council is leading a major coal tip safety project. The Chancellor met with Council Leader Cllr Steve Hunt, Cabinet Member Cllr Jeremy Hurley, and contractors from Walters UK to view progress on stabilising the site — part of a wider £143 million UK Government investment in coal tip safety.

Later, the Chancellor and First Minister visited the Opportunity Hub in Port Talbot’s Aberafan Shopping Centre, where they met local people seeking work — including those affected by the closure of blast furnaces at Tata Steelworks, currently transitioning to a cleaner Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) model.

Staff from NPT Employability and the Trailblazer Programme shared how they’re helping residents retrain and upskill for long-term employment. The UK Government has committed £10 million to support this pilot initiative in Neath Port Talbot, Blaenau Gwent and Denbighshire.

The Chancellor also spoke with former steelworkers supported by the Employment and Skills Fund, set up by the Tata Steel Transition Board to help those impacted by the shift to greener steel production.

Cllr Steve Hunt said:

“We’re glad to see the Chancellor taking a first-hand look at the issues we’re facing here in Neath Port Talbot — from the dangerous legacy of the mining industry to job losses due to changes at Tata Steel. This council is working hard with its partners to mitigate these problems and we welcome the funding that is so essential for us as we move to a cleaner, greener future.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

£6.3m for coal tip safety in Neath Port Talbot
Welsh Government announces record funding to address legacy mining risks across Wales.

Chancellor and First Minister visit Neath Port Talbot
Leaders meet workers and inspect coal tip safety works and employment support initiatives.

Neath Port Talbot to pilot Trailblazer employment programme
£10m boost for new scheme tackling economic inactivity in South West Wales.

#AberavonShoppingCentre #AfanValley #Chancellor #CllrJeremyHurley #CllrSteveHunt #DyffrynRhonddaColliery #ElunedMorganMS #employability #employment #employmentAndSkillsFund #FirstMinister #NeathPortTalbot #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #PortTalbot #RachelReevesMP #TataSteelTransitionBoard #TataSteelworks