![\"logo\"](\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Welsh_Gov-300x285.png\")
Wales\u2019 towns are to receive \u00a390 million of additional investment as part of a new Welsh Government approach to transforming town centres across the country, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn has announced.<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
The Welsh Government writes:<\/p>\n
The Transforming Towns package being announced today includes measures to increase footfall by making sure the public sector locate services in town centre locations, tackle empty buildings and land to help bring them back into use, and greening our town centres.<\/p>\n
Towns are vital to environmental, economic, social and cultural well-being in Wales \u2013around 40% of our population live in small towns of less than 20,000 people but nearly everyone identifies emotionally with a town \u2013 or city \u2013 in some way.<\/p>\n
Many towns are struggling in the wake of declining retail sales and the way we use town centres has changed.<\/p>\n
To help breathe new life into town centres, the Welsh Government is today unveiling a new \u2018Town Centre First\u2019 approach, which means locating services and buildings in town centres wherever possible. As part of this approach, all Welsh Government departments will put the health and vibrancy of town centres as the starting point for their location decision-making processes.<\/p>\n
Utilising this approach, the public sector is also being encouraged to support towns by locating offices, facilities and services within them in order to drive footfall and create or sustain vibrancy.<\/p>\n
To support this new approach, the Welsh Government is announcing a \u00a390 million investment to transform Wales\u2019 town centres. Investments include:<\/p>\n
The \u00a390 million Transforming Towns package builds on the \u00a3800 million investment in our towns as a result of significant Welsh Government investment since 2014.<\/p>\n
The Deputy Minister made the announcement at the Queen\u2019s Market building in Rhyl, which has received \u00a35 million of Welsh Government funding. This forms part of a total investment of \u00a316.5 million in the town centre as a result of regeneration schemes.<\/p>\n
Announcing the new approach during a visit to Rhyl, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn said:<\/p>\n
“Towns are incredibly important to the people and places of Wales, and they are incredibly important to me personally. We have great towns in Wales \u2013 towns with inspiring histories and unique assets. But we want our towns to have great futures as well as great pasts, and we know that some of our towns are facing challenges.<\/p>\n
“The retail sector has shrunk dramatically and this trend looks set to continue. This is why we need to refocus our efforts on town centres, transforming them to be to be fit for the 21st Century. The Transforming Towns package I am announcing today will help towns do just that \u2013 giving them a much needed boost.\u2019<\/p>\n
“As part of this package, we\u2019re taking action to bring empty and derelict properties in our town centres back into use and our Town Centre First Principle will help bring increased footfall and vibrancy.<\/p>\n
“Taken together these measures will make a significant contribution to the health of our town centres. It signals that this Government is serious about transforming towns right across Wales”\u2026.<\/p>\n