£3.7m fund to open for Welsh coastal towns

The National Lottery Community Fund will launch a £3.7m programme to support Welsh coastal towns on April 1.

Half of the funding will be for projects that focus on economic and social regeneration. 

Organisations can apply for individual grants of between £50,000 and £300,000, for initiatives that focus on job creation, protection, and high street rejuvenation in coastal areas.

It’s available to private sector firms, statutory bodies, and third sector organisations. Projects must be based within 3 miles of the coast but other projects that have a clear connection to local coastal communities may also be accepted.

Projects to win funding in previous rounds include Halen Môn which received a £191,817 grant to provide a permanent building to house the organisation’s Salt-Cote and Visitor Centre. Milford Haven Port Authority were awarded £139,568 to install four fully-accessible floating hotel rooms in the marina. Creating Enterprise received a £174,580 grant to build innovative timber frames for new build housing developments and affordable homes across North Wales.

Hannah Blythyn, Wales deputy minister for housing and local government said: ‘The Welsh Government is committed to transforming high streets across Wales and I’m really pleased to be working with The National Lottery Community Fund once again to support Coastal town centres through the Welsh Government’s Coastal Communities Fund.

‘Supporting town centres and high streets, through the Transforming Towns Agenda, is at the heart of our regeneration work. This fund will make a significant contribution to the health and economy of our coastal town centres across Wales.’

Andrew Owen, head of funding at the National Lottery Community Fund Wales, said: ‘I’m always delighted to see the incredible projects put forward by applicants.

‘They truly highlight the innovative ideas along the Welsh coast and I’m looking forward to following their development and the vital difference they’ll make to coastal communities.’

For further information about the application process visit The National Lottery Community Fund website at https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/coastal-communities-fund-1.

Photo Credit – the National Lottery Community Fund