Written question WQ83112

We are focussed on ensuring North Wales has a stronger, greener and fairer future.

We continue to work with the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB) and the UK Government on the North Wales Growth Deal, which offers almost £1bn investment opportunity across North Wales. The first tranche of funding was paid to the Board in March 2021 to support the Board as the deal moves into the delivery phase.

Work continues on a Regional Economic Framework for North Wales, alongside the North Wales Economic Ambition Board. The Framework will articulate shared priorities for the regional economy including priorities for Covid recovery and research in key areas.

The then Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government announced our Transforming Towns agenda in January 2020 with a package of support for town centres which is now worth nearly £136 million – building on existing projected investment of £800 million in our towns since 2014. This investment remains vital in supporting our town centres and is delivering:

• major capital projects which are repurposing empty property and land in town centres across Wales;

• £15 million and industry leading expertise on enforcement for local authorities to address the issue of empty and neglected properties that blight our high streets;

• green infrastructure schemes worth £9 million across Wales which will make town centres greener, more attractive and safer;

• support for our coastal communities/towns

We are delivering a Transforming Towns (TT) programme in North Wales focussed on supporting the vibrancy of our town centres, enabling job creation and improving community facilities. To date total project costs are £39.7 million with a total TT funding commitment of £18.3 million. Additional budget of £9.1 million has been allocated for 2021-22.

Rhyl: Rhyl is identified as the priority town centre for Denbighshire in the North Wales Regional Plan due to its stubbornly high deprivation statistics. There is a notional allocation of £4 million of Targeted Regeneration Investment (TRI) funding for Rhyl over the three years 2018-21. Both the North Wales Regional Regeneration Plan 2018-21 and the Rhyl Town Centre Masterplan identify the need for investment to Rhyl’s High Street.

Wrexham: Grant funding of £750k has supported a £2.8 million project to enable the renewal and relocation of the former Techniquest Glyndŵr, creating the new Xplore science discovery centre, and helping the town to address the challenge of a declining retail focus and bringing new footfall.

Gwynedd: Grant funding of £1,200,000 has recently been awarded in support of a £3,917,000 scheme to refurbish a redundant church and creating a new purpose built creative hub for young people and the community of Bangor. The new Nyth Centre will bring new footfall into the City Centre.

Conwy: Programme support has enabled investments in Colwyn Bay Town Centre worth almost £1.4m through a Commercial Property Investment Scheme, a combination of grant and loan for retail and commercial building occupiers and owners to enhance building frontages and bring vacant commercial floorspace back into beneficial use.

The Property Team within Economic Infrastructure are working on a range of projects across North Wales including:

• Wrexham

• Wrexham Gateway Regeneration scheme - Demolition contracts were recently completed on the Former Nightingale Charity Shop site at the corner of Mold Rd & Crispin Lane and Former Countrywide Farm Stores site at the approach into Wrexham General Station site to prepare both sites for redevelopment. The site acquisition and demolition represents a commitment of circa £1.45m by Welsh Government.

• Flintshire

• Warren Hall Key Strategic Site – Welsh Government are working with Flintshire Planning Dept, NWEAB and Airbus to secure the allocation of 186 acres of land for Employment & Residential use in Flintshire’s 2015-2030 LDP which is currently going through its public examination. Going forward we will work closely with NWEAB who have earmarked £15m of funding under the Land & Property Programme of the North Wales Growth Deal which will be invested in the infrastructure required (roads, sewers, utility connections, etc) to enable on site development.

• Northern Gateway Key Strategic Site – Welsh Government have committed £10m funding to deliver infrastructure at the Airfields site and £5m property development grant to Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti (ICT) a leading European tissue manufacturer to construct a brand new 700,000 sq ft facility which will create 229 new jobs.

• Hawarden Business Park – under the auspices of the Property Delivery Plan Welsh Governement has agreed to sell 9.7 acres of land and commit £1.69m via a property development grant to support the delivery of 3 new industrial units totalling 60,000 sqft by a private sector developer.

• Denbighshire

• Asaph Business Park – Welsh Government have committed £0.47m via an EU funded property for business development grant to support of the development of the recently completed 10,000sqft office HQ for Pure Residential & Commercial Ltd and are dealing with a number of other enquiries for development land on the Business Park.

• Conwy

• Ty Gwyn Industrail Estate, Llanrwst - Welsh Government is planning to upgrade the road infrastructure on this site.

• Gwynedd

• Parc Bryn Cegin, Bangor – under the auspices of the Property Delivery Plan officials are in advanced discussions to sell circa 3.5 acres of land and provide a property development grant to support the delivery of 9 speculative industrial units totalling 54,000 sqft by a private sector developer and are dealing with a number of other enquiries for development land on site.

• Anglesey

• Bryn Cefni Industrial Estate, Llangefni - under the auspices of the Property Delivery Plan Welsh Government has agreed to sell 6 acres of land and commit £1.7m via a property development grant to support the delivery of 22 small speculative factory units totalling 30,000 sqft by a private sector developer.

• Llangefni Trade Park – Welsh Government committed £0.8m via an EU funded property infrastructure grant to support the recently completed development of 8 speculative factory units totalling 18,000 sqft by Castle Property Investment Holdings Ltd.

• Former Nursery site at Star near Gaerwen – Welsh Government have committed £0.33m via an EU funded property for business development grant to support of the delivery of a new 6,400sqft new factory/office HQ for John Kelly Construction Services Ltd.

• Penrhos Industrial Estate, Holyhead – under the auspices of the Property Delivery Plan WG have committed £1.45m to support a Phase 2 development of 8 speculative factory units totalling 9,200 sq ft via a JV with Anglesey Council. This is in addition to the £1.6m committed to support the recently completed Phase 1 development of 10 speculative factory units.