Working

Barry Regeneration

Building a Brighter Barry

What is regeneration?

"The upgrade of an area, taking a balanced approach to improving the wellbeing of communities through social, physical and economic improvements."

Source: Wales Audit Office August 2005

Barry: the need for regeneration and historic context

Barry is a town of over 47,000 people and has many strengths and opportunities. These include a scenic coastal setting, an extensive dockland area situated between the town centre and its seaside resort and beaches, a railway running through the heart of the town, close proximity to the capital city in the east and Wales' only International Airport to the west.

Kings Square

To realise these strengths and to reposition the role of Barry within the South East Wales economy however is a major challenge.

This is due to the need to secure the resources required to fully overcome the historic reasons for the decline of the area, namely:

Victorian town / coal port – industrial decline in post war years
Demise of Barry Island as a traditional seaside holiday resort due to market changes, ever increasing consumer demands and cheaper overseas holiday options
Greatest concentration of socio-economic need in the Vale
Demise of traditional shopping areas due to out of town developments
General poor image – deters personal and corporate investment

Barry regeneration underway - The first phase of a major programme of improvements aimed at revitalising Holton Road and Thompson Street in the centre of Barry has commenced.

Holton Road Commercial Renewal Area - In order to continue the momentum of regeneration activity, the VAle of Glamorgan Council in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) are launching a Commercial Renewal Area in Holton Road.

Strategic Direction and Priority Setting Since 1995

Barry Action – a strategic partnership between the Vale of Glamorgan Council and WDA to reposition the role of Barry in South East Wales economy.

Barry Joint Initiative – partnership between Associated British Ports and WDA to facilitate the redevelopment of circa 199 acres of dockland – Waterfront Barry.

Projects

Since 1995 the partnerships have targeted project work in Barry so as to ensure that financial resources benefit the widest possible area. To date approximately £48million of public investment has drawn in just under £100million from the private sector. Here is a selection of projects either undertaken or in progress as a result of this investment:

Area 41 (PDF 1MB)

Barry Steam Railway (PDF 1.1MB)

Barry Town Hall (PDF 1.1MB)

Cadoxton Renewal Area (0.8MB)

Castleland Alley Gating Project (PDF 1.1MB)

Central Station and Thompson Street Footbridge (PDF 1MB)

Innovation Quarter (PDF 1.2MB)

Innovation Quarter - Goods Shed Events Site (PDF 1.1MB)

Innovation Quarter - Hydraulic Pumphouse (PDF 1.2MB)

Innovation Quarter - Waterfront IT Centre (PDF 1.2MB)

Nell's Point Coastal Park and Coastwatch CentrePoint (PDF 1MB)

The Knap (PDF 1MB)