#prideinplace — Public Fediverse posts
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SWANSEA: Community champion sought to help shape how £20 million is spent on Gateway Communities regeneration
Community leaders in Swansea are being urged to apply for a new independent role that will sit at the heart of one of the most significant regeneration programmes the city has seen in years.
The position — Independent Chair of the Neighbourhood Board — will provide strategic leadership over how £20 million of Pride in Place funding is invested in Swansea’s Gateway Communities. The area covers a cluster of neighbourhoods north of Swansea railway station, including Brynmelyn, Waun Wen, North Hill, Dyfatty and Hafod — communities that have long been identified as among the most overlooked in the city despite being passed through daily by thousands of commuters and visitors.
The Chair’s role will be to act as a champion for those communities, ensuring the Neighbourhood Board is genuinely community-led, inclusive and rooted in local needs rather than top-down priorities. The money can be used on a wide range of projects — from saving threatened pubs or libraries and improving community safety, to revitalising local high streets or restoring green spaces.
Swansea West MP Torsten Bell, who secured the funding through the Pride in Place programme, is calling on community leaders to put themselves forward.
Bell said: “The Pride in Place scheme is all about handing power back to people — this role is a fantastic opportunity for a community champion to have a lasting impact, working with a Swansea neighbourhood whose residents have too often felt overlooked.”
He added: “I fought for this funding because it gives us the chance to show that no part of Swansea can be written off. If you care deeply about these neighbourhoods and want to help make that vision a reality, I would strongly encourage you to apply.”
The Pride in Place scheme is part of a wider £214 million investment across south west Wales, designed to give communities a direct say in tackling long-standing problems in their areas. The Swansea allocation is one of the largest individual awards in the region and is intended to be spent over a decade, with decisions made in phases as priorities are identified.
Bell has previously set out his own vision for how the money should be used, but has been clear that the decisions must ultimately be driven by residents — not politicians or officials. The Independent Chair role is central to that ambition, providing a community-rooted voice at the top of the board rather than a council or government appointee.
The area covered by the funding has been in the spotlight in recent months for a range of reasons. South Wales Police has been running a targeted crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in Dyfatty, which has already produced significant early results — with crime falling 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69%. The regeneration investment offers a longer-term complement to that enforcement work, addressing the underlying conditions that can fuel deprivation and disorder.
The Neighbourhood Board will be responsible for overseeing how the money is prioritised and spent, and the Independent Chair will play a key role in making sure that process is transparent, community-led and genuinely responsive to the needs of residents in the affected areas.
Full details of the role and the application process are available on the Swansea Council website at swansea.gov.uk/prideinplacechair.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Swansea neighbourhood handed £20m boost as MP urges residents to shape decade of investment
The announcement of the Pride in Place funding for Swansea’s Gateway Communities.Opinion: Torsten Bell MP — how Swansea should spend its Pride in Place funding
The MP sets out his priorities for the decade-long regeneration investment.Crime down 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69% as Dyfatty crackdown delivers early results
South Wales Police’s targeted enforcement in the same area is already showing significant results.South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment for local projects
#Brynmelyn #Dyfatty #GatewayCommunities #Hafod #PrideInPlace #Swansea #TorstenBellMP #WaunWen
The wider regional context for the funding that is now being put to work in Swansea. -
£20m boost for Swansea Civic Centre days after MP’s call for action
In an opinion piece published by Swansea Bay News on Sunday, Mr Bell said reviving the Civic Centre should be the city’s “next big regeneration step” — and urged momentum behind the proposals.
Now, that push appears to have paid off.
The funding follows months of campaigning by the MP and is being described as a key step towards turning recently unveiled plans for the Civic Centre into reality — although it will still need to go through further checks, including due diligence and approval of a final business case, before it is formally released.
Those plans — drawn up with Swansea Council and development partners Urban Splash — would see the site transformed into a mixed-use destination, featuring cafes, bars, shops, workspaces and leisure space, alongside around 140 apartments and 15 commercial units.
Headline attractions include proposals for a saltwater lido and a new aquarium, with the latter designed as a “next generation” visitor experience combining live marine exhibits with cutting-edge digital technology.
The attraction is also expected to work closely with Swansea University’s marine experts, with a strong focus on education and conservation.
Swansea Bay News has charted the rapid progress of the scheme in recent weeks, from the release of the first artist impressions to cabinet backing and strong public interest during consultation.
But until now, a central question has remained: how the transformation would actually be funded.
The £20 million investment from the UK Government begins to answer that — and is expected to help unlock the next phase of the project as it moves beyond consultation, with a planning application anticipated later this year.
An artist’s impression showing how part of the redeveloped Civic Centre site could look, with new cafés, bars, leisure spaces and a busy seafront promenade.
(Image: Urban Splash / Swansea Council)For decades, the Civic Centre has served as a base for council services, but with departments now relocating — including to the new Y Storfa hub — attention has quickly turned to the future of the prominent seafront complex.
Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West said securing “major investment” in what he describes as an “iconic Swansea landmark” has been a “personal priority”.
Mr Bell said: “With £20m funding from the UK Labour Government, this is another big step forward for the city.
“With its prime spot overlooking the splendid curve of our beach, the building is crying out for a new lease of life. And that is exactly what we are going to give it, as we keep investing in Swansea’s future, not just remembering its past.
“Great progress has been made with the opening of Y Storfa and regeneration of the Palace Theatre. Works to improve Castle Gardens and open new offices from the Kingsway to St David’s are also underway. The momentum is real – it’s vital we harness it.”
He added that the Civic Centre funding is part of a wider package of UK Government investment in Swansea, including a further £20 million through the Pride in Place scheme, as well as commitments to rail improvements and the proposed Swansea Bay Metro.
A visual of the proposed Civic Centre plaza, featuring new public spaces, landscaping and a landmark aquarium building.
(Image: Urban Splash / Swansea Council)Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said the funding represented a major vote of confidence in the city’s wider regeneration plans.
He said: “We want to see the Civic Centre transformed into a high-quality landmark destination for living, working and enjoying, with new homes, independent businesses and leisure spaces that benefit local people while attracting more visitors to Swansea.”
He added that the waterfront site offered “one of the most spectacular locations in the UK” and said the investment would help the project move forward more quickly.
Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales, said the funding would help unlock the full potential of the site.
She said: “This investment will help deliver ambitious plans for the Civic Centre and transform this part of the city, making the most of its spectacular location and strengthening Swansea as a destination for visitors.”
The redevelopment also forms part of a broader wave of regeneration across the city, linking the waterfront site with ongoing changes in the city centre and beyond.
If delivered, the scheme could provide a significant boost to the local economy, with estimates suggesting it could generate around £17 million a year and support more than 300 jobs across hospitality, retail, leisure and building management, alongside additional roles linked to the proposed aquarium.
While key details — including timelines for construction and how the scheme will be delivered — are still to be confirmed, a planning application is expected later this year as proposals continue to be developed.
The funding itself remains subject to final approvals, but the announcement marks the clearest sign yet that the recently revealed plans are now moving from ambition towards delivery.
And coming just days after the issue was put firmly back in the spotlight, it suggests momentum around Swansea’s Civic Centre is building fast.
#cityDevelopment #CivicCentre #CivicCentrePlans #civicCentreRedevelopment #CllrRobStewart #featured #JoStevens #PrideInPlace #PrideInPlaceFund #RobStewart #SwanseaBay #SwanseaBayMetro #SwanseaCivicCentre #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaNews #SwanseaRegeneration #TorstenBell #TorstenBellMP #UKGovernment #UKGovernmentFunding #UrbanSplash #waterfrontRegeneration -
Swansea neighbourhood handed £20m boost as MP urges residents to shape decade of investment
The funding, confirmed today, will focus on the communities north of Swansea railway station — stretching through High Street, Brynmelyn, Waun Wen, North Hill and Hafod. The area, used daily by thousands travelling in and out of the city, has long been identified as one of Swansea’s most overlooked corridors.
MP: ‘This area is too often forgotten’
Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, welcomed the announcement and said the decade‑long investment must be shaped by the people who live there. He has launched a public survey asking residents to set the priorities for the scheme.
“Swansea is making real progress,” he said. “Our city centre is seeing landmarks renewed and new buildings open, from the Albert Hall to the new Y Storfa. And today’s confirmation of £20m investment in the neighbourhoods north of the train station will make sure an area, that thousands travel through every day but is too often forgotten, is part of this progress.”
He said the funding would “make a real difference” and urged residents to take part in the consultation.
What the money will target
The £20m comes from the Pride in Place programme — a £180m, 10‑year regeneration fund for communities across Wales. The scheme is designed to give local people a direct say in tackling issues that have blighted their neighbourhoods, from run‑down high streets to graffiti, vandalism and the loss of community facilities.
Alongside the main investment, Swansea will also receive a share of £34.5m in capital funding to improve public spaces across the city. That includes repairing broken bus shelters, reopening park toilets and upgrading other neglected infrastructure.
Residents asked to set priorities
The MP’s survey — available on his website — asks people to identify the problems they want fixed first. Early suggestions include improving lighting and safety on key walking routes, restoring community buildings, and tackling long‑standing fly‑tipping hotspots.
The funding will be rolled out over the next decade, with decisions expected to be made in phases.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Llanelli handed £20m lifeline as decade‑long regeneration drive targets town’s most deprived communities
A major investment package aims to revive struggling neighbourhoods and restore key community assets.Upper Afan Valley lined up for £20m boost as council backs decade‑long regeneration bid
Long‑term funding is set to support jobs, infrastructure and community renewal across the valley.Opinion: Torsten Bell MP — how Swansea should spend its Pride in Place funding
The Swansea West MP sets out his priorities for how the city can make the most of the investment.South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment for local projects
Communities across the region are set to benefit from a decade of targeted regeneration funding.‘Transformational for our communities’: South West Wales MPs react to £214m Pride in Place funding
#Brynmelyn #deprivation #featured #Hafod #HighStreet #NorthHill #PrideInPlace #PrideInPlaceFund #PrideInPlaceImpactFund #Swansea #TorstenBellMP #WaunWen
Local MPs welcome the investment and outline what it could mean for neighbourhoods across the region. -
Llanelli handed £20m lifeline as decade‑long regeneration drive targets town’s most deprived communities
Tyisha, Glanymor and Llanelli town centre will share the cash over the next decade in what ministers say is a bid to “rebuild community pride” and help neighbourhoods that have been left behind.
The area — home to nearly 14,000 people — ranks among the 20% most deprived in Wales, with Tyisha 1 listed as the sixth most deprived neighbourhood in Wales for community safety. Deprivation is also high across income, employment, health and education.
‘People here have been ignored for too long’
Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, said: “I am pleased to have been able to secure this additional £20m of long‑term investment for Llanelli which these communities can now use to address issues that they raise with me day‑in, day‑out.
“It will be for the people who live there to decide how this money will be spent, based on what they feel is most important — whether it be improving the places that their families live, work and grow up in, supporting better local facilities and community organisations, helping people access skills and training or making our streets safer, cleaner and more welcoming.”
She said residents had been “overlooked for far too long” and needed a fair deal that reflected their priorities, not someone else’s.
Station Road in Llanelli looking towards the town centre, linking the railway station and Pentre Awel with the main shopping area.New Neighbourhood Board to take control
A new Neighbourhood Board will now be created to oversee the project. It will include Carmarthenshire Council representatives, Dame Nia Griffith, local residents, community leaders and businesses.
Griffith urged people to get involved. “I can’t stress enough how important it will be for everyone living and working in these areas — as well as the wider Llanelli community who want to help revive our town centre — to make their voices heard over the next few months,” she said.
“I will be insisting residents are involved in the decision‑making process throughout so that it properly reflects their needs and delivers the improvements and the fair deal they rightfully deserve.”
Crime, deprivation and a town centre in decline
The targeted area includes Tyisha, the core of Glanymor and Llanelli town centre — a stretch long associated with anti‑social behaviour, empty units and stalled regeneration schemes.
Officials say the town centre remains the “functional economic area” for the wider community, linking key regeneration sites including the route to Pentre Awel via Llanelli railway station.
The funding is expected to focus on community safety, cleaner streets, better facilities, skills and training, and support for local organisations — but the final priorities will be set by residents.
Part of a wider regional funding battle
The £20m for Llanelli comes from the UK Government’s Pride in Place scheme — a nationwide programme aimed at reviving struggling neighbourhoods and restoring pride in local communities. But across South West Wales, the rollout has already sparked fierce debate over how the money should be carved up and who gets to decide where it goes.
In Neath Port Talbot, councillors have backed a decade‑long regeneration plan for the Upper Afan Valley, while Carmarthenshire’s allocation has triggered political clashes over transparency and control. Swansea MPs have also warned that Pride in Place funding must be shaped by residents, not handed down from above, with calls for open decision‑making and clear priorities.
Against that backdrop, Llanelli’s £20m package becomes the latest test of whether the decade‑long programme can deliver real change — and whether local people will genuinely be put in charge.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Upper Afan Valley lined up for £20m boost
Neath Port Talbot backs a decade-long regeneration plan under Pride in Place.How Swansea should spend its Pride in Place funding
Swansea West MP Torsten Bell sets out his priorities for the city’s allocation.South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment
Communities across the region set for major long-term funding.‘Transformational for our communities’ say MPs
Regional MPs welcome the scale of the Pride in Place programme.Clash over £20m Carmarthenshire Pride in Place funding
Political tensions rise over how the county’s allocation will be used.‘Constitutional outrage’ as Senedd members revolt
#CarmarthenshireCouncil #community #DameNiaGriffithMP #deprivation #featured #Glanymor #Llanelli #LlanelliTownCentre #NeighbourhoodBoard #NiaGriffithMP #PrideInPlace #PrideInPlaceFund #StationRoad #Tyisha #UKGovernment
MSs challenge the UK Government’s approach to distributing regeneration funds. -
Upper Afan Valley lined up for £20m boost as council backs decade-long regeneration bid
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet has backed the Upper Afan Valley as the single community to put forward for the UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme — a decade‑long investment scheme targeting the UK’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
The decision follows months of analysis comparing deprivation, crime, health, education and access to services across the county. Officers say the Upper Afan Valley stood out as the area facing the deepest and most persistent deprivation, with one local zone ranked among the 15 most deprived in Wales.
A valley hit by long-term decline
The Upper Afan Valley area put forward by the council covers Cymer, Croeserw and Gwynfi, along with the smaller communities that make up the wider valley. Together they form a single, connected neighbourhood identified as having the highest concentration of deprivation anywhere in Neath Port Talbot.
The council report paints a bleak picture. Parts of the valley have been classed as suffering “deep‑rooted deprivation” for almost two decades, appearing in the 50 most deprived communities in Wales in every official index since 2005. Jobs are scarce, health outcomes are poor and access to services is limited. Officers say the area has also missed out on other major regeneration schemes, leaving it with fewer chances to attract investment than other parts of the county.
Although the population falls slightly below the UK Government’s preferred size for the programme, the council argues the level of need is so severe that the Upper Afan Valley remains the strongest and most justified choice.
Three contenders — but only one could win
Under the rules, Neath Port Talbot can nominate only one neighbourhood for the £20 million fund. Officers examined the Upper Afan Valley alongside Sandfields and Aberavon, and Briton Ferry West and Neath East. Both of the urban areas have larger populations and stronger links to Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme, giving them more immediate opportunities to draw in other funding.
But the council’s independent review found that the Upper Afan Valley’s deprivation was more severe, more entrenched and more concentrated than anywhere else in the county. It also noted that, because the valley’s population is smaller, the investment per head would be far higher — giving residents a better chance of seeing visible, long‑lasting change.
“An optimistic sign of investment”
Cllr Jeremy Hurley, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said:
“If approved by UK Government, this money for the Upper Afan Valley is an optimistic sign of investment in what is – on average – the most deprived area in Neath Port Talbot.
“I hope the UK Government approves our recommendation so that the community can benefit.”
What the £20 million could deliver
If the bid is approved, the Upper Afan Valley would receive one of the largest single‑neighbourhood regeneration packages ever directed at a community in Neath Port Talbot. The funding would be spread over ten years and could support improvements to public spaces, upgrades to community facilities, investment in local assets and projects tackling health, employment and education inequalities.
A new Neighbourhood Board, led by an independent chair, would be created to oversee the plan and ensure residents shape the priorities.
A tight deadline — and a big decision ahead
The council must now secure letters of endorsement from local MPs and MSs before submitting its formal proposal to UK Government ministers. The deadline is 9 January 2026, with decisions expected later in the year.
If approved, the Upper Afan Valley would become the focus of a decade‑long regeneration effort aimed at reversing decades of decline and giving one of Wales’s most disadvantaged communities a long‑awaited boost.
More Pride in Place news
‘Transformational for our communities’: MPs react to £214m funding
South West Wales MPs welcome the UK Government’s new investment package.South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment
Councils across the region set to benefit from long‑term regeneration funding.Clash over £20m Carmarthenshire Pride in Place funding
Political tensions rise as Carmarthenshire’s preferred neighbourhood sparks debate.‘Constitutional outrage’: Senedd Labour revolt over funding bypass
#AfanValley #CllrJeremyHurley #Croeserw #Cymmer #deprivation #Gwynfi #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #PrideInPlace #UpperAfanValley
Senior MSs criticise the UK Government’s approach to distributing regeneration money.