Cwmbran’s £20 million regeneration fund faces a two-year delay before spending can begin
Cwmbran: So, there’s this big £20 million regeneration plan for the town center that’s been in the works. But guess what? It’s hit a snag and is now two years behind schedule.
This funding was announced back in October 2023 by the previous Conservative government as part of their towns fund. It’s supposed to be spread out over ten years, which sounds great, right?
But after the Labour government took over last July, there was a bit of a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the spending plans. Thankfully, the cash for Cwmbran was confirmed in last October’s budget, so that’s a relief.
However, Torfaen Borough Council has now said that the money won’t be available until 2026. That’s quite a wait! The funding will be managed by a board made up of local business and community folks.
This board was set up last April and even did some community engagement over the summer to figure out what the locals really want. They’re just waiting for the UK Government to drop some info on their goals for the program.
Unfortunately, the new prospectus for the towns fund hasn’t been published yet, and the program won’t kick off until April 2026. A council spokeswoman mentioned that the new UK administration is tweaking the program to fit their priorities.
The Town Board is eager to see the new prospectus so they can adjust their plans accordingly. They’re still hopeful that they can come up with a solid plan that aligns with what the community wants, based on the feedback from last summer.
On top of that, the council is working on its own ten-year plan for Cwmbran’s regeneration, called a placemaking plan. They consulted on this last autumn, and the final version is set to be reviewed by the Labour-controlled council’s cabinet this spring.
