Newport can be a hub for urban regeneration in Wales

Welsh Government Communities Minister Lesley Griffiths was in Newport this week to inspect some of the projects benefitting from the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places programme.

The programme aims to act as a stimulus for city and town centre growth, with a particular focus on redeveloping unused empty properties into facilities fit for housing, work or leisure. Newport has received a substantial investment of £15million through Vibrant and Viable Places, making the city Wales’ single largest beneficiary from the scheme.

Vibrant and Viable Places is a great Welsh Government initiative which aims to give a new lease of life to high streets and urban areas across Wales. In Newport we have already seen great examples of what Vibrant and Viable Places funding can deliver; from the new social housing development on Cardiff Road to refurbishment work at Newport Market.

It was exciting to talk to Lesley Griffiths about further Vibrant and Viable Places regeneration projects in Pill and on Commercial Street; including Griffin Island. It’s wonderful to see landmark buildings in Newport coming back to life.

The fact that Newport received the largest funding allocation of any local authority in Wales is a testament both to the strength of Newport City Council’s funding bid, and our city’s potential as a hub for urban regeneration in Wales. The success of Vibrant and Viable Places here is a result of great cooperation between the council, and developers including Seren and Greenwich.

Pictured above – Catching up with two of the apprentices hard at work redeveloping the Griffin Island building in the City Centre