Important new funding of £1.5 million will be allocated across Rhondda Cynon Taf’s eight town centres over two years, after Cabinet Members considered how the UK Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund could best be spent.
An officer report to Cabinet on Monday, December 15, outlined the funding that has been secured for the County Borough, to invest in our communities up until March 2027. The Pride in Place Impact Fund is intended to be short-term funding that addresses issues that matter locally. This is separate to the Pride in Place Programme, that targets transformation over the longer term.
Councils can spend their Impact Fund allocations in a number of ways, as long as they conform to one or more of the Fund’s three core objectives – to create or extend community spaces, to enhance the physical environment in public spaces, and to revitalise high streets and town centres. Projects can be brought forward under these objectives, to meet local needs or opportunities.
Monday’s Cabinet report noted that it is essential to target priority areas where the most immediate, visible, and far-reaching opportunities can be achieved. It added that our town centres must be as vibrant and sustainable as possible to maximise their role in providing services, homes, leisure and retail amenities.
In addition, local town centres have been benefitting from enhancements and business investment programmes via the ongoing Shared Prosperity Fund, which ends in March 2026. If the Pride in Place Impact Fund is allocated to town centres, it would build upon the momentum gained. It would enable an immediate impact to the overall attractiveness of local high streets – in turn leading to increased footfall, reduced vacancy rates, a boost to the economy, increased investor confidence, and a greater sense of community pride.
Having considered officers’ recommendations, Cabinet Members agreed to endorse this strategy for the Pride in Place Impact Fund, up to March 2027.
As part of the allocation, Cabinet also agreed that a capital grant programme of £100,000 will be established, for community organisations to deliver other complementary activities in line with the Impact Fund’s objectives. It will make grants of between £3,000 and £5,000 available as match funding, to attract external funding that will bring further investment within local town centres.
Councillor Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity, said: “I’m pleased that Cabinet Members have supported allocating our £1.5 million share of the UK Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund to further regenerate our eight town centres, which are the hubs of our local communities. Focusing on these public spaces is considered the best way to maximise the investment for the most residents – in places that people meet, shop, live, earn a living, and access key services.
“Our town centres have also faced many economic challenges in recent years. On top of the wider change in consumer behaviour, traders have also endured specific events like the pandemic, storms and flooding, as well as the high cost of living which continues. Therefore, it’s important to support our town centres now more than ever, to ensure they can thrive into the future.
“With the funding available across this year and next, it will enable us to continue the valuable work being delivered via the Shared Prosperity Fund, which ends in March. The Impact Fund’s main objectives around extending community spaces, enhancing public areas and boosting retail areas, conform to the aims of our various existing town centre strategies. These are blueprints for future investment that are in place for Mountain Ash, Porth, Pontypridd and Aberdare – with the latest strategy currently in development for Tonypandy.
“I’m also pleased that a small allocation will be set aside for third sector match funding opportunities. This will establish a £100,000 capital grant programme for community organisations to access funding, to complement their own local investments and initiatives. Leveraging funding in this way will increase the overall investment in our town centres, under the Pride in Place ethos.
“Following Cabinet’s approval, officers will now progress with implementing this new funding. An important part of the delivery process will be engaging with key groups and representative organisations – for example, our Business Improvement Districts – as well as local elected members. I’m looking forward to seeing this new funding being used in our town centre communities.”
Posted on 18/12/2025