Cabinet has agreed an extra investment of £11.5 million for Council priorities, over and above this year’s capital programme – targeting extra funding for road maintenance, flood alleviation, parks, green spaces, and country parks.
The funding will also contribute to the planning and design of the next tranche of major school investment projects across Rhondda Cynon Taf, along with the continued design and development of two major highway infrastructure projects – the Llanharan Sustainable Corridor and Cynon Gateway North.
A report to Cabinet on Monday, September 22, detailed the proposed capital investment for the current financial year (2025/26) and, following Members’ agreement it was subsequently considered and agreed by Full Council on Wednesday, September 24. One-off investments of this type have been brought forward on several occasions since 2015, to deliver a total additional investment of around £204 million in Council priority areas.
Monday’s Cabinet report noted that the proposed investment can be funded from resources already set aside for this purpose (a specific reserve for Infrastructure and Investment) alongside additional funding from the Highways Management Local Government Borrowing Initiative from Welsh Government.
The investment areas that will be prioritised include:
- Highways and Roads – £2.5 million.
- Llanharan Sustainable Transport Corridor – £3 million.
- Cynon Gateway North Transit Corridor – £2 million.
- Making Better Use/Traffic Developments – £100,000.
- Flood Alleviation works – £250,000.
- Parks and Green Spaces – £500,000.
- Country Parks – £150,000.
- Sustainable Communities for Learning investment – £3 million.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said: “Despite significant financial challenges continuing across the public sector, our prudent and proactive approach has enabled us to bring forward a further round of one-off capital funding of £11.5 million – for Council priority areas that support our Corporate Plan. We’ve managed to do this on a regular basis since 2015, with extra capital investments totalling £204 million made to date. Following agreement by both Cabinet Members and then Full Council, our capital programme will now be increased to £212 million this year – which will be one of the largest investment programmes in Wales.
“The funding will add £2.5 million to our road and footway maintenance programme for the current financial year – along with an extra £250,000 towards flood alleviation, £500,000 for parks and green spaces, and £150,000 for our country parks. These are key Council services that residents clearly care very strongly about, and this targeted investment would be delivered for our communities by the end of March 2026. A separate report to Cabinet on Monday outlined in more detail how the highways funding would be allocated.
“Important funding is also now agreed for two of our major transportation schemes for the future – the Llanharan Sustainable Transport Corridor and the Cynon Gateway North Transit Corridor. These schemes have both been reconsidered following Welsh Government’s Roads Review, with key design changes now being incorporated. The major investment identified for both schemes shows our commitment to delivering them – to find permanent traffic flow solutions in key locations within the north and south of the County Borough.
“Finally, extra funding of £3 million is earmarked for school investment, building on the Council and Welsh Government’s investment to successfully deliver new buildings for Penygawsi Primary, Pontyclun Primary, Llanilltud Faerdref Primary, and YGG Llyn y Forwyn in 2024/25 – alongside an £80 million investment across Greater Pontypridd schools. Focus is now turning to the next long-term rolling programme of investment, details of which were shared with Cabinet Members in March 2025, covering nine projects over a nine-year period and amounting to £414 million. This includes a new Additional Learning Needs school in Clydach Vale and a new sustainable school and hub for Glyn-coch, both of which are progressing well on site. On completion of the new nine-year rolling programme in March 2033, it is expected that the cumulative investment delivered in Rhondda Cynon Taf schools since 2014 will amount to more than £988 million.”
Posted on 25/09/2025