Newtown, Llandrindod Wells and Brecon are among six communities that will benefit from the new town centre investment scheme.

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Hannah Blythyn announced the £1.5 million of Welsh Government funding as part of a £2.14 million Town Centre Property Investment Fund.

It is designed to bring vacant commercial, residential and retail space back into use.

Hannah Blythyn said: “We want to support local businesses, grow our fantastic town centres and create job opportunities in Mid Wales. Creating more good quality commercial and retail space will help with this, as will creating homes in the centre of our towns, so people can live and work centrally and contribute to the local economy.

“This fund will help to create opportunities out of empty properties and attract more people to our town centres. I look forward to seeing some exciting refurbishments, and businesses growing and prospering across towns as a result.”

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

Powys County Council will manage the administration of the programme. The email address for applications is regeneration@powys.gov.uk

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Martin Weale said: “We are committed to making sure our town centres are attractive, vibrant places for people to live, work and visit. Today’s news will provide a major boost for the individual towns and support their local businesses.

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“The funding will also support our wider aspirations to strengthen the whole economy by stimulating regeneration work and building upon the many major investment projects that the council has in progress and is planning across Powys. The council’s regeneration team are hard at work on these projects and the first point of contact for anyone interested in the scheme.”

The Welsh Government funding is part of the Targeted Regeneration and Investment programme, which is providing £100 million of capital funding across Wales over three years to support regeneration projects in town centres and neighbouring areas.

This funding is supported by estimated further investment of at least £60 million from other organisations and businesses, providing an overall boost of £160 million to communities all over Wales.