New-look regeneration policy launched by welsh government
Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, Huw Lewis has launched ‘Vibrant and Viable Places: New Regeneration Framework’ – which changes the way regeneration is delivered across Wales.
The Framework sets out a new approach to regeneration that will see investment of up to £30m a year made available with all of Wales being able to apply for funding – not just the current Regeneration Areas.
Marking a step change in the way regeneration is funded, ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’, will ensure that higher levels of investment are better targeted in fewer places in order to maximise impact.
To support this new way of delivering regeneration to help tackle poverty and reverse declining communities, targeted investment will be aligned with other Welsh Government policies – such as Communities First – and a more collaborative approach will be taken between the public, private and third sectors.
Projects will need to contribute to the Government’s key agenda of delivering jobs and growth and helping people into work. The three priorities for investment will be town centres, coastal communities and Communities First clusters.
Huw Lewis said:
“With the current squeeze on public finances we have to ensure that every pound spent – be it on health, transport or education – has a regenerative consideration.
“The scale of the challenge underlines the need for us to work collectively across government and in collaboration with the public, private and third sectors to support innovation and share good practice.
“Taking a more collaborative and targeted approach to regeneration across Wales will mark a change in the way we invest in our towns and communities for a decade to come. Investment for regeneration will no longer be stopping at boundaries or borders.
“We will be guided by Local Authorities to bring forward cases for investment that will help bring lasting improvement to our communities, tackle poverty, deprivation and mitigate the effects of welfare reform.
“As the economic crisis – and uncertainty – persists, there is no second chance for those of us who serve our communities, to help them create new opportunities.”
New National Outcomes, aligned with our Communities First programme, have been adopted in the new-look policy in order to ensure successful regeneration schemes are delivered for the long term benefit of declining communities.
Local authority area partnerships will be tasked with developing bids for targeted regeneration investment.
Regeneration activities will also be joined up with the next round of European funding and the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan.
‘Vibrant and Viable Places’ was shaped following an extensive consultation exercise that received over 140 written responses and was broadly welcomed at workshops across Wales.
http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/housingandcommunity/2013/130311regen/;jsessionid=D6B3D22AA3BC0F1D67BDAD6E0C2D2558?lang=en
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