EXACTLY how Barry town centre will benefit from £842,857 of regeneration funding has been explained - with High Street and Holton Road set to benefit.

Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister Lesley Griffiths explained today (Tuesday, July 21) that the capital funding will be loaned to the Vale of Glamorgan Council for up to 15 years to be spent on key regeneration projects in the heart of the town.

During this time, the council can recycle and re-invest the funding in different projects which aim to improve the area and bring empty buildings back into use.

The first project set to benefit from the funding is on High Street with the completion of the Cwrt Bethesda site as affordable housing, while 35 High Street will be refurbished for retail use on the ground floor and residential use on the upper floor.

Key sites on Holton Road, including Haydock house, will also be redeveloped, creating 22 new apartments as well as retail space.

The spending intends to create such improvements that will "encourage economic growth in Barry and make it a more diverse, vibrant and attractive place to live and visit".

The funding is part of the Welsh Government’s £5 million Town Centre Loan scheme which is also being shared among town centres in Rhyl, Rhymney, Grangetown, Llanelli, Caernarfon and Tredegar.

Announcing the funding, Lesley Griffiths said: "Town centres play a vital role in community life and this loan funding will help bring about improvements in the areas which need it the most.

"This £5 million will be used by the seven local authorities, including the Vale of Glamorgan, over the next 15 years to improve town centres across Wales. By making improvements to Barry town, we hope to increase visitor numbers and give local businesses and communities a boost."