THE Barry Making Waves project pitched the Barry Story to potential investors in London as part of the annual Wales Week London on Friday, February 27.

Wales Week London is a showcase of activities and events that celebrate and promote everything that is great about Wales.

Funding for the project has come from the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Great Place Scheme, the Vale council and Barry Town Council.

The project wants to promote the use of culture and heritage as driving forces to help make Barry even greater.

With the aim of promoting investment in place-based regeneration, a number of initiatives have been implemented.

These include setting up a Barry Place Board, made up of local businesses, community representatives and third sector organisations.

Chairwoman of Barry Place Board, Fay Blakeley said: “It was an honour to share all the great things about living and working in Barry.

“Barry is an exciting place to develop a business at the moment with so many new developments and new people moving into the town.”

The Place Board have overseen the development of the Barry Story book and the accompanying design toolkit.

The Place Board has launched a Barry Story book explaining how Barry’s history has left a rich legacy experienced today.

It is home to Barry Island, a Waterfront development, and Porthkerry Country Park with its viaduct.

The town is a mix of period houses, parks and green spaces and a high street with independent shops .

The book illustrates the lifestyle and work-life balance offered by Barry, making it an ideal place for businesses to move to, where employees will want to live.

The book also offers a clear message for Barry’s future – to capitalise on its unique assets of seaside and quayside, and to build on the Spirit of Innovation that David Davies and his partners brought to Barry at the end of the 19th century and which is evident in Barry’s more recent entrepreneurs.

Vale council deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Lis Burnett said: “Barry is developing rapidly and there are many development opportunities both in progress and on the near horizon.

“We need to ensure that new developments are true to Barry’s character and follow these guiding principles.”