FLINTSHIRE and Wrexham will benefit from their slice of Welsh Government funding to support town centres, deputy minister Hannah Blythyn has announced.

The deputy minister for housing and local government has announced a £10m boost - made up of capital loan funding - for town centres to support businesses and increase vibrancy and footfall in towns across Wales.

The Transforming Towns loan scheme will support local authorities to reduce the number of vacant sites and premises in town centres by providing interest free loans to redevelop or refurbish sites.

The properties will be redeveloped as shops, homes and leisure facilities, with loans being recycled up to three times over a 15-year period.

Once repaid they can be used again to fund new loans and be re-invested in similar projects.

Flintshire and Wrexham will benefit from a combined total of £1,340,000 – split as £500,000 for Wrexham and £840,000 for Flintshire - from this year’s round of applications.

Ms Blythyn said: “This Transforming Towns loan scheme highlights the Welsh Government’s commitment to revitalising our town centres and putting their health and vibrancy at the centre of everything we do.

“These loans support activities that generate footfall, tackle empty sites and premises and support businesses to grow and prosper.

“The way we use our town centres has changed and many towns are struggling in the wake of declining retail sales.

“Whilst businesses across our towns and on our high streets have faced challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, we have also seen a positive shift towards shopping local. I hope that this funding will enable this shift to continue and become embedded in how we shop and use our towns in the years to come.”

This funding comes as part of the Welsh Government’s total investment of £900m for regeneration projects alongside key partners.