Llywydd, I'm happy to announce a further package of support for town centres worth nearly £90 million as part of our transforming towns agenda. This builds on the projected £800 million investment in our towns as a result of our regeneration programmes since 2014. The transforming towns package includes support for enforcement around empty and derelict properties in our town centres, a new green infrastructure fund and a town-centre-first approach to new developments.

These measures will contribute significantly to the health of our town centres. We all agree here that towns are incredibly important to Wales, and the vast majority of us will have a natural affinity to at least one town—places that have shaped us, places that are integrally linked to friends and family, places that are so much more than just a collection of buildings. Towns across the country have unique assets, a proud heritage and inspiring histories.

But I want our towns to have great futures as well as great pasts, and some are facing challenges. The retail sector has changed as the way we shop, work and live has changed. The role of towns is changing and towns need to repurpose themselves to adapt. That's why we've been investing in bringing life to town centres through housing, office and business start-up space, and leisure and public services. We have a number of regeneration funds that are targeted at town centres but have not been explicitly badged as such. From now on, our investments will be an integral part of our transforming towns agenda and I want to clarify and simplify the processes around funds.

The transforming towns package includes extending our capital grant funding programme for a further year to March 2022. Welsh Government investment of £36 million will enable the delivery of additional projects worth nearly £58 million. I am also providing an additional £10 million loan funding to bring empty and under-utilised buildings in town centres back into use. And I have established a £5 million green infrastructure and biodiversity fund for greening projects, which will bring environmental benefits as well as helping making town centres more attractive places to visit.

Coastal towns like Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Cardigan and Barry already benefit from our existing programmes, and will continue to do so. I have, though, additionally earmarked funding to specifically support projects in coastal town areas. This £2 million funding will deliver projects worth around £3 million and includes an element of revenue as well as capital funding.

More generally, I'm also providing £0.5 million revenue funding to enable local authorities to develop master plans, projects and provisions for town centres, including digital development and enhancing community and stakeholder engagement. Community and stakeholder engagement is key to the vitality of a town. I want to support communities and stakeholders to take ownership of their towns and to shape their future. And I intend today to take to towns across the country to hear what people have to say and how they want to shape, to transform, their own towns and the places where they live and work. We've also put £539,000 into supporting the development of 22 business improvement districts.

As part of giving communities and businesses the tools to do the job, with the Carnegie Trust, we funded the creation of the understanding Welsh places data tool. We're now funding further development of the tool, which assists users to better understand the places where they live and work, in order to make positive change.

Whilst I am keen to empower and challenge communities to take ownership and drive change from the grass roots, I recognise that Government has a key, strategic role. I want to use all the levers at our disposal to make a real and lasting difference to our town centres. That's why this Government, together with our partners in the Welsh Local Government Association, has adopted a town-centre-first principle. This will mean that town-centre locations will be the first consideration for any new developments we are part of. The principle will inform our future estates strategy and we will strongly support and encourage our partners to do likewise.

Whether it's a small rural town or a large urban one, whether it's my constituency office in the heart of Flint town centre, or Transport for Wales's headquarters in Pontypridd, location decisions can provide a boost to a town. I recently visited the new Conwy County Borough Council headquarters at Colwyn Bay and saw for myself the positive effect on the town centre—increased footfall, decreased vacancies and a marked improvement in business performance and confidence. Town-centre locations also bring major environmental benefits, such as reducing single-use car journeys, preservation of green field sites, opportunities to introduce green infrastructure, and more co-location of public agencies.

One of the key challenges in transforming our towns is tackling empty and derelict properties or land—the properties that have blighted too many of our high streets for too long. It's time to call time on this. I'm providing local authorities with access to expertise and a £13.6 million fighting fund to enable them become a source of constant nuisance to those owners who don't engage or only do the bare minimum. With our local authority partners, we have prioritised 66 properties across Wales for action. So, my message to owners of empty properties in town centres is: work with us and we will help to bring your empty property back into use. But, if you refuse to co-operate, we will not be afraid to take firm and final action.

This Welsh Government is serious about refocusing and reinvigorating our approach and support for town centres, and these measures will make a significant contribution. In addition, my officials are exploring the feasibility of a fund aimed at unlocking strategic stalled sites in Wales that are likely to yield significant numbers of housing. This links to recommendations within the affordable housing review and, reflecting our town-centre focus, will prioritise sites that would directly benefit town centres.

Llywydd, this package is simply the start of transforming towns and definitely not the end. Together, we can and will make sure that towns across the country not only survive but thrive. Diolch yn fawr.