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.

Work to begin on Port Talbot’s Civic Square and Princess Royal Theatre

The council has appointed building experts Morgan Sindall Construction as the main contractors on the project which it says is aimed at regenerating the town centre and improving key facilities.

The Civic Centre itself is not included in the regeneration project and public parking will continue to be available in the civic centre’s ‘top car park’ prior to the barriers.

The regeneration project, which is funded by the UK Government, aims to ‘rejuvenate and modernise’ the 798-seat Princess Royal Theatre by improving customer experience with new cafes, an extension to the southwest elevation of the building, a remodelled bar servery area and an auditorium entrance lobby with a large, modern foyer.

Other additions for the theatre include improved  conferencing facilities, a remodelled, lightweight orchestra pit, better sound and lighting along with additional technical improvements designed to host a wider variety of productions at the popular venue.

The council say that Port Talbot’s Civic Square will be transformed into a multi-purpose community space with features such as new seating and significantly improved green spaces with extensive tree and shrub planting.

This ‘greening’ of the Civic Square will involve a 70% increase in trees and the area will also benefit from ‘rain gardens’ – green areas designed specifically to hold and soak in rainwater runoff.

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Cllr Scott Jones said: “We will appreciate people’s understanding and patience as we begin work to enhance and transform Port Talbot’s town centre area. 

“We want to keep our residents and customers fully informed about access to our key facilities and any potential disruptions during the work so look out for social media posts and other council announcements.”

#CivicSquare #featured #MorganSindallConstruction #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #PortTalbot #PrincessRoyalTheatre #regeneration

Green light for major upgrades to Port Talbot’s Princess Royal Theatre and Civic Square

The scheme, backed by UK Government funding, aims to ‘rejuvenate and modernise’ the 798-seat Princess Royal Theatre by improving customer experience with new cafes, an extension to the south west elevation of the building, a remodelled bar servery area and an auditorium entrance lobby with a large, modern foyer.

There will also be a “premier” green room for artists.

Other additions for the theatre include a conference hall with capacity for 250 people, a remodelled, lightweight orchestra pit and a large sound and lighting room with winch and rigging facilities so a wider variety of productions can be held at the popular venue.

Under the plans, Port Talbot’s Civic Square will be transformed into a multi-purpose community space with features such as new seating and significantly improved green spaces with extensive tree and shrub planting.

The ‘greening’ of the Civic Square will involve a 70% increase in trees and the area will also benefit from ‘rain gardens’ – green areas designed specifically to hold and soak in rainwater runoff.

The Planning Committee, at its meeting on Tuesday, December 17th, heard in an officers’ report:

“These proposals will see a combination of public realm enhancements and architectural interventions to upgrade this site and improve the public realm and desirability of the area for use.”

The project, which will see a new Amphitheatre in the Civic Square along with space for ‘pop-up’ commercial uses, is due to start in February 2025 with completion anticipated by early 2026.

Some of the UK Government funding for the project is also earmarked for a scheme to create new green infrastructure and play and family areas alongside the River Afan a short distance from the Civic Square and Princess Royal Theatre.

Cllr Cen Phillips speaking about the project said:

“This project is designed to make the Civic Square more vibrant and attractive and more functional as a safe community space. It will also see more greening of the Civic Square and will represent a considerable improvement in public space in the centre of Port Talbot.

“As for the theatre, it will be transformed, making it more contemporary, giving the opportunity for a wider range of shows and offering more space for relaxation and there will also be a gateway entrance created giving this important building a strong identity.”

The work will be carried out in seven phases, ensuring continuous access to the civic centre and surrounding buildings.

[Lead image: Neath Port Talbot Council]

#CivicSquare #PortTalbot #PrincessRoyalTheatre

Peace rally, Civic Square.

#CivicSquare #moe_tahurangi #Kōtuia #performingartists #Masks #Commercialstreets #Activists #Crowds #silver #photographicgelatin #photographicpaper #workprints #gelatinsilverprints #Wellington #undefined

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/40736772/source

Jesus rally, outside Weliington Town Hall.
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#WeliingtonTownHall #CivicSquare #WellingtonTownHall #moe_tahurangi #Kōtuia #Concerts #Banners #Musicalinstruments #silver #photographicgelatin #photographicpaper #workprints #gelatinsilverprints #Wellington #undefined

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/40731548/source

Civic Square, Wellington. From the series: Notes on the country I live in
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#CivicSquare #Wellington #second #moe_tahurangi #Kōtuia #Women #Walls #Sitting #Outdoorfurniture #silver #photographicgelatin #photographicpaper #workprints #gelatinsilverprints #undefined

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/40791626/source

Civic Square, Wellington. From the series: Notes on the country I live in

#CivicSquare #Wellington #second #Notes #moe_tahurangi #Kōtuia #Sitting #Sleeping #silver #photographicgelatin #photographicpaper #workprints #gelatinsilverprints #undefined

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/40737055/source

Mercer Street
Photographed outside the Wellington Town Hall in Mercer Street (later incorporated into Civic Square). The subjects are likely watching an event outside the library associated with the Festival of Wellington. The copyright of this image continues to be held by the estate of Ans Westra. Please forward all requests for copies,...

#MercerStreet #CivicSquare #AnsWestra

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/49229017/source

Peace rally, Civic Square, Wellington.

#CivicSquare #Wellington #AnsWestra #moe_tahurangi #Kōtuia #Activists #Banners #Women #silver #photographicgelatin #photographicpaper #workprints #gelatinsilverprints

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/40773396/source