6. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government: Supporting our Town Centres

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:08 pm on 28 January 2020.

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Photo of Hannah Blythyn Hannah Blythyn Labour 6:08, 28 January 2020

Just to start where you finished, the way I'm approaching this and the way Welsh Government is approaching this is: it's not just about the projects, it's about the places and the people who make up those places. As we say, you talked about boosting the economy of the individual place, it's actually about the feel of it as well, and that sense that people feel their home town has gone downhill and that sense of civic pride that goes with it. I think that's why we need to approach it—you are absolutely right—in that holistic way, ensuring things are joined up and there are no unintended consequences elsewhere. As I said before, it's about actually being able to access towns, as well as actually having a nice town and a nice place to go to and having that experience there as well.

Specifically in terms of green infrastructure and looking at the benefits that brings. Yes, the bricks and mortar are important, but for too long that's all we've focused on. When we've looked at what is the public realm or the public space, it's often just been a bit of concrete or some paving stones or a few potted plants, rather than thinking about it in a much broader, more beneficial way. Although the green infrastructure fund is £5 million as a separate fund, I would encourage local authorities and others, when they are considering other regeneration projects, to use the criteria that we are going to look at in the future and actually take that into account as part of that as well. We want that to be part of those projects that come forward from local authorities and other stakeholders.

I recognise what's been said in here in terms of actually making sure there is that support for local authorities in that holistic approach, and a recognition that budgets are tight after a decade of austerity. But we're doing what we can within this. We're taking this forward now, with support from elsewhere across Government, and I'm really pleased that we're able to offer revenue funding to local authorities to start actually looking at what they're going to need to take this forward as well, whether that be master planning or digital support or community engagement.