£10m investment could see shopping areas get facelift
SOME of Cardiff ’s busiest shopping areas could get a huge £10m facelift.
Cardiff council is bidding for £10m of a fund for projects in south east Wales. If successful it could see Cowbridge Road East in Canton, City Road in Roath and Clifton Street in Splott given boosts.
The suggested programmes have to promote economic regeneration for areas in most need and individuals.
The council want to use the money to benefit Tudor Street, Wellington Street and Cowbridge Road East.
The money there would be used to enhance shops and businesses and improve links to city centre destinations including Central Square. It would also improve travel such as cycling and walking and identify new residential opportunities. In Adamsdown and Roath, City Road, Clifton Street and the surrounding areas could also get similar improvements.
The council also hopes to develop its hubs. The hubs combine council facilities including libraries and advice spaces in one building. The authority wants to develop existing hubs and create new facilities. It also wants to work with the health authority on well-being hubs.
The Welsh Government’s targeted regeneration investment programme starts in April, initially for a three-year period, with around £44m available for the south east Wales region.
The programme succeeds the vibrant and viable places programme through which the council paid for improvements at Clare Road/Penarth Road, Grangetown Hub and the extension to St Mellons Hub.
Cabinet member Lynda Thorne said: “We are committed to a range of interventions and investments to improve the quality of life for people in communities across the city. If we are successful in our bid for this new funding then it offers us the opportunity to further build on good work already under way.
“Targeted investment in communities that need it most will support our ambition to address long-standing and deep-seated inequalities in the city and improve the life chances of some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
Coun Thorne said: “Cardiff’s initial submission for the regional plan will include investment in two business corridor/areas which are significant locations of economic activity and employment as well as important access routes into the city centre.
“We are also seeking more investment in our hubs programme which has proven to be a huge success with the public. We want to continue with the programme and build on it.”
The programme has to work regionally and Cardiff is already working to prepare a regional plan and considering processes and criteria for prioritising projects.
Cardiff council’s cabinet will discuss the proposal on Thursday.