A Growing Mid Wales Partnership scheme funded by Welsh Government to revitalise town centres across Mid Wales remains open for applications.

The £1.5m Town Centre Property Investment Fund was first announced in April 2019 as part of the wider Targeted Regeneration Investment Fund, and is designed to bring vacant commercial, residential and retail space back into use.

Six designated towns across Powys and Ceredigion have been identified to benefit from the regeneration scheme - Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Brecon, Lampeter, Llandysul and Tregaron.

Owners of empty properties within these towns are being encouraged to apply for funding ahead of the deadline on 14 September.

The fund is a package of support including loans, private investment and grants. Applicants will have to demonstrate that existing grant and loan finance options have been properly considered and exhausted before they seek funding.

Cllr James Evans, Powys Cabinet Member for Economy, said: “This is a brilliant funding opportunity to restore empty properties and attract more people to our town centres.

“I’m pleased that there has been a good take up so far, but with almost £200,000 of funding remaining we are making a final call for potential projects.

“The damaging effects of Coronavirus on the economy means it’s more crucial than ever to seize funding opportunities and revive our town centres.

“We want our towns to be attractive places for people to live, work and visit. Creating more good quality commercial and retail space will allow more people to contribute to the local economy.

“Despite the fund only being available for six towns across the region, the investments will inevitably support our wider aspirations to strengthen the whole Mid Wales economy. I look forward to seeing some exciting refurbishments in the coming months.”

Cllr Rhodri Evans, Ceredigion Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “We understand that there will be Welsh Government Regeneration money coming to the region next financial year for the region to administer as a property development grant scheme across all of the towns in the region.

“Details of this are not yet available and the Growing Mid Wales Partnership will need to decide on the amount of money directed into this sort of scheme compared with more specific strategic investments in the six regeneration towns, which we still see as being in particular need of attention.”

Powys County Council is managing the administration of the programme and anyone interested can visit www.growinpowys.com/gmw or www.ceredigion.gov.uk/business/funding-grants/town-centre-property-investment-fund/ for more information.