Property owner Rhys Davies is the first in Pontypridd to benefit from the Council’s pioneering Townscape Enhancement Programme.
One of the major components of the £10.5million cash injection into the town centre provides the opportunity for commercial property owners to take advantage of a new funding scheme with a contribution of up to 70% towards property enhancements.
Mr Davies, a Chartered Surveyor who has worked for more than 40 years in Pontypridd, is delighted that his property on Gelliwastad Road is the first in the town to receive approval for the scheme.
“This is a first-class initiative which will undoubtedly have a far-reaching visual impact on the whole of Pontypridd and I certainly welcome it,” he explained.
“From the moment I picked up the telephone to enquire about the project, to the moment the builders physically moved into my property to undertake the work, the support and guidance of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s staff have been exemplary.
“I greatly support the scheme and would encourage property owners throughout Pontypridd to take advantage of this unique opportunity to make a lasting and positive image of the town centre.”
Mr Davies’s two-storey property will undergo a series of works, firstly to demolish and rebuild a section of the rear of the building which has greatly deteriorated over the years. It will also refurbish the ground floor offices for potential new tenants to occupy.
The financial support will contribute to refurbishing the front elevation of the Victorian property by reinstating the original sash-style windows, protecting and enhancing the town’s Conservation Area.
Mr Davies’s building is one of over forty town centre properties that council officers have visited to provide guidance and support to owners and tenants. Proposals are being developed for numerous other town centre properties, which collectively will create a lasting legacy of Pontypridd’s townscape.
The Townscape Enhancement Programme is seen as an integral element of the physical regeneration of Pontypridd town centre, delivering improvements to the fabric of properties and the townscape.
Renovation and improvement works to buildings will be supported, within the commercial core of Pontypridd town centre. The scheme will enhance commercial properties through high quality improvements, creating an attractive townscape, and instilling a strong sense of “place” for shoppers, residents and business people alike.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Safer Communities Cllr Paul Cannon explained: “Mr Davies is the first of our property owners in Pontypridd to benefit from the Townscape Enhancement Programme and we greatly appreciate his glowing comments on the easy way in which the application was handled by our staff who supported him through every stage of the process.
“Creating a visually attractive town centre will increase confidence in Pontypridd and encourage private sector investment. This in turn should generate local employment opportunities, increase the amount of visitors, create stronger and more diverse businesses, and foster a vibrant and sustainable economic centre.
“The opportunity to enhance Pontypridd’s townscape is one not to be missed and I would encourage many more property owners to apply for the funding support as soon as possible. Together we can recreate the very image of Pontypridd for all those who work, visit and shop in the town centre.”
Commercial property owners and tenants who wish to enquire about the financial opportunities available through the Townscape Enhancement Programme can obtain further details by phoning 01443 495170 or by emailing [email protected]
