£36m regeneration projects for north Wales approved

Details of £36m worth of regeneration projects in north Wales have been announced.

It includes money to help first-time buyers in Holyhead buy or modernise empty properties and to make 500 homes in Colwyn Bay energy efficient.

There is also cash to improve the appearance of shop units on Deeside and for further sea defence improvements at Colwyn Bay.

Funding to develop a long-term plan for Wrexham town centre was also announced.

The schemes are part of the Welsh government's £100m Vibrant and Viable Places project.

'Attracting people'

Housing and Regeneration Minister Carl Sargeant said: "I've made no secret of my priority of providing more good quality homes across Wales and so it will come as no surprise that many of the proposed regeneration projects have this at their heart.

"There are projects targeted at renovating empty properties and bringing them back into use, attracting more people to live in town centres and improving the quality and energy efficiency of homes and businesses, for example.

"But I've also approved significant funding for a wide range of different projects, including further development at Colwyn Bay Waterfront, a Creative Industries and Arts Centre Development in Wrexham, improvements to the appearance of Deeside town centre and the regeneration of the Market Hall in Anglesey."