South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment for local projects
Swansea is set to receive £20 million over the next decade as part of a new UK Government programme that puts local people in charge of how money is spent on their communities.
The Pride in Place fund, announced today by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will see nine areas across Wales each receive up to £20m, alongside a further £34.5m shared between every local authority in the country.
Swansea: £20m over ten years
Swansea is one of the areas chosen for the full £20m allocation. Local MP Tonia Antoniazzi said the funding – £2m a year for ten years – was a “massive investment” that would be decided by residents themselves.
“Local people know their area better than anyone else and that is why the government has decided to do this differently,” she said. “This is our chance to improve our area by making the big decisions for ourselves – not by letting other people make decisions for us.”
A local board will be set up to coordinate the project, with residents invited to submit ideas ranging from park improvements to bringing empty buildings back into use.
Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire also in line for £20m
Neighbouring Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire are also among the nine areas selected for the full £20m allocation.
Stephen Kinnock, MP for Aberafan Maesteg, said the £20m for Neath Port Talbot was “a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity” and stressed:
“It will be up to all of us to decide how exactly this money is spent – not politicians in London, but local residents, right here in Aberafan Maesteg.”
Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, welcomed the £20m for Carmarthenshire, saying:
“This £20 million of new funding will change lives over the next decade and be spent where local people need it most. Local people know their area better than anyone else and that is why the UK Labour Government has decided to do this differently.”
Bridgend: £3m as ‘most in need’
Bridgend Council will receive £3m from the Pride in Place Impact Fund – double the £1.5m given to most other authorities – after being identified as the local authority most in need.
Pembrokeshire: £1.5m
Pembrokeshire will receive £1.5m from the same impact fund, earmarked for improvements to public spaces such as bus shelters, park toilets, bins and leisure centres.
Henry Tuffnell, MP for Mid & South Pembrokeshire, highlighted the £1.5m allocation as:
“A valuable boost for regenerating our local areas, and I’ll be working with Pembrokeshire County Council to make sure that money is used in the best way possible for our community.”
💷 Pride in Place funding – South West Wales
- Swansea: £20m (main fund) + £1.5m (impact fund) = £21.5m
- Neath Port Talbot: £20m (main fund) + £1.5m (impact fund) = £21.5m
- Carmarthenshire: £20m (main fund) + £1.5m (impact fund) = £21.5m
- Bridgend: £3m (impact fund – identified as most in need)
- Pembrokeshire: £1.5m (impact fund)
Total new investment across these five counties: £69m
UK Government: ‘Communities in control’
The UK Government says the programme is about giving local people the power to decide how money is spent.
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.”
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added:
“More than £200 million of new investment will see improvements made to communities up and down Wales making them even greater places to live and work.”
Wider context
The Pride in Place programme builds on previous regeneration schemes, taking total UK Government funding for Welsh communities to more than £300m. It will run alongside Welsh Government initiatives such as Transforming Towns and Placemaking.
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