Rhyl: £20 million regeneration strategy is being planned
Rhyl Neighbourhood Board gathered business owners, politicians, charities, council officers, health representatives, and other key figures for its first 'thematic workshop' at the town's rugby club.
The meeting saw up to 40 stakeholders, including representatives from Denbighshire County Council, North Wales Police, and the retail, hospitality, and housing sectors, discuss potential investment and development areas.
The attendees deliberated on four key topics: regeneration, high streets and heritage, transport, housing, safety and security, health, wellbeing, work productivity and skills, and education, opportunity, and cohesion.
Savills director and strategic advisor Nick Bennett, who presented the event, spoke about the future of the regeneration strategy, 'Our Rhyl/Ein Rhyl,' which aims to drive UK Government missions for economic growth and sustainability over the next 10 years.
Mr Bennett said: "The plan for regeneration is for people of all ages in the town, so it's important – especially given the population of Rhyl is bucking national trends and rising – that all voices are heard."
He also said that while the funding is £20 million over 10 years, the board hopes to leverage more from the public and private sectors.
Clwyd North MP Gill German emphasised the importance of everyone's input in making the most of the town, while Vale of Clwyd MS Gareth Davies stressed the need for a collaborative approach between local stakeholders.
Up to 40 stakeholders attended the event (supplied)The discussions brought about a variety of ideas and targets, including an increase in green spaces, support for small businesses, housing, and street safety initiatives.
There was also a focus on making health a priority for all projects and capitalising on Rhyl's promenade and beach, which was described as 'among the very best in North Wales.'
READ MORE: Rhyl pub under new management to host fundraiser weekend in aid of RNLI
Board member and owner of Jean Emporium, Nadeem Ahmad, said: "Making a difference for the retail landscape in the high street and town centre is long overdue, we want to improve the visitor experience for residents and tourists."
Simon Jones of the Kite Surf Café Bar added: "I see Rhyl very much as a destination.
"We get thousands of customers every week in the summer."
Board chair Craig Sparrow praised the event, describing it as a 'brilliant first step' towards creating 'a proper strategic plan' that will make a long-lasting difference for generations.
He said: "This is an area that has so much potential, and that spirit has been captured today."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
6 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Rhyl's former Poundstretcher shop is set to become new homes
Applicant Mr Vikas Kakar, of Spire Group Real Estate Ltd, lodged plans in March 2024 to convert the first and second floors of 113 High Street into four self-contained apartments. He also wanted to replace the 'unsympathetic shop front' with a design 'suitable for the conservation area'. Denbighshire County Council's planning committee granted his proposal consent on June 20. Conditions attached with the consent include that the development starts within the next five years, and no external lighting is installed until an 'external lighting plan' is submitted to and approved by the council. Planning permission was granted despite an objection being submitted by Clwyd Chambers, a conference venue and workspace on Clwyd Street, who raised concerns about lack of parking and bin space, and antisocial behaviour. Rhyl Town Council raised no objections to the application when consulted. The property has been vacant since 2018, with amending the shop front considered essential to allow for residential access to the upper floors. Last month, police attended the property after receiving reports of 'suspicious activity' at the premises. Police at the scene on High Street, Rhyl (Image: Submitted) Extracts from a design and access statement, prepared by Singh Fudge Architects, read: 'The proposal seeks to change of use to residential across the first and second floors, with the retail offering retained at ground floor. 'As part of the new access design, the proposal will also make improvements to the shop front design, to be in keeping with historic shop frontages as detailed in the Rhyl Central Conservation Area Appraisal. '113 High Street currently suffers, like many, from upper floors that are generally under-used or vacant. 'The proposal for 113 High Street offers an opportunity to provide much-needed housing, whilst retaining an activated street, through the retention of the retail offering to the ground floor. 'The redesigned shop front will improve and attempt to alleviate a weakness in the current condition of the conservation area of modern shop fronts with overly large signage and advertising dominating the street scape.' The property measures 230 square metres, with some demolition of the existing roof and floors required to facilitate the inclusion of a new lightwell. A new entrance for the retained retail provision on the ground floor and the entrance to the apartments will also be included. Demolition was considered 'necessary', in this instance, to replace the 'inappropriate' shopfront. Poundstretcher is now based in Rhyl at Greenfield Place Retail Park. The statement added: 'The portion of building to be demolished is not original and does not have any conservation merit. 'The proposals seek to replace the shop front identified as insensitive, resulting in a building that will become a positive contributor to the conservation area.'
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
Prestatyn coastal defences completed early and under budget
The Central Prestatyn Coastal Defences Scheme was not due to be finished until the end of 2025, but a small completion ceremony was held today (June 19), and was attended by Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies MS. A plaque was also unveiled to mark the completion of the project, which includes a new embankment to store storm surge waters and reduce the risk of them reaching Prestatyn's town centre. The Deputy First Minister said the flood defences will be a 'huge benefit' to residents of Prestatyn. He added: 'I'm delighted to be here today, to officially open this amazing coastal protection scheme. 'It's a massive piece of work from Balfour Beatty and Denbighshire County Council, and funded by over £22million of Welsh Government money. 'This is the sort of work we're doing now to tackle climate change and protect these homes and businesses, and to make a beautiful esplanade along the front for tourists to enjoy, as well. 'It's a great piece of work.' Huw Irranca-Davies next to the plaque marking the project's completion. (Image: Newsquest) Balfour Beatty delivered the scheme on behalf of Denbighshire County Council. Additional protective measures include new rock armour at the western end of the scheme, providing erosion protection around the slipway, along with improvements to existing culverts and construction of two new outfall structures. Welsh Government provided 85 per cent (£22.2 million) of the construction funding through its Coastal Risk Management Programme (CRMP). Denbighshire County Council contributed the remaining 15 per cent, while Welsh Government also fully funded the £1.75m development phase. Cllr Jason McLellan (L), leader of Denbighshire County Council, also attended today's event (Image: Newsquest) Cllr Jason McLellan, Denbighshire County Council leader, attended today's event, and said: 'I want to say thanks to Balfour Beatty. This project has been delivered ahead of time and under budget, and we rarely say that about a big infrastructure project like this. 'I'm here as council leader, but the ward I also represent (Prestatyn North) is literally next door, and I think the community engagement here has been excellent. 'There have been some concerns and push-backs from residents as you would expect, but Balfour Beatty and the team have dealt with them brilliantly.' Huw Irranca-Davies with some of the Balfour Beatty staff who worked on the scheme (Image: Newsquest) Cllr Barry Mellor, the council's lead member for environment and transport, also attended today's completion ceremony, and said: 'Having witnessed the devastating effects of the coastal flooding which hit Rhyl on December 5, 2013, this work is particularly close to my heart. 'The council opened Rhyl Leisure Centre at that time as an evacuation centre due to the severe flooding, and the sight of my residents coming in soaking wet clinging to their loved animals will never leave me. 'I still have residents coming up to me to this day saying how grateful they are as they now can sleep at night without having to worry about their homes flooding. 'So, I'm so pleased to see the completion of this part of the project which will now give peace of mind to the residents of Prestatyn.' The scheme could protect up to 2,700 Prestatyn homes from flooding (Image: Newsquest) As well as protecting the area from flooding, the work created eight new jobs and more than 190 days of work experience was provided for people. The Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme, meanwhile, is set for completion in August or September.
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
Denbighshire: £4.8million road maintenance works to commence
The work across the county will be spread across two years, with Welsh Government's Local Government Borrowing Initiative (LGBI) enabling the programme to start. This programme identified schemes for both 2025-26 and 2026-27 based on the total allocation of £4,780,699 for the two-year period from Welsh Government. A programme of works has been developed to improve the carriageway surface on a number of roads in the county, with significant investment planned at A525 Nant Y Garth pass, A547 Abergele Road near Rhuddlan and Tynewydd Road in Rhyl. The decision to approve the acceptance of the LGBI funding will allow Denbighshire County Council's Highways department to commence work on the programme straight away. The council will be targeting this funding at improving the surface condition of carriageways on identified sections of the network during the two-year period of 2025-27. Cllr Barry Mellor, the council's lead member for environment and transport, said: 'We know the improvement of the county's road network is a topic that comes up regularly from our residents. 'We are grateful to have this additional Welsh Government funding to supplement our own funding to help improve our roads. 'Our officers have worked hard to produce a mass programme of full resurfacing of carriageways for this funding. 'The work that will be carried out on our roads over the next two years will really help improve the network and driving experience for both residents and visitors to Denbighshire.' The council said it will share more information on when and where road networks in the county will benefit from this programme in due course.
