Funding opportunities to transform vacant town centre properties in Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire County Council is encouraging property owners, businesses and developers to take advantage of funding available to bring vacant town centre buildings back into use.

Two funding schemes – the Capital Development Fund and the Town Centre Vibrancy Fund – are supporting the transformation of empty premises into vibrant commercial spaces across the county’s town centres.

The Capital Development Fund supports projects within the Ten Towns areas, while the Town Centre Vibrancy Fund focuses on the Primary Towns of Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli.

Both funds are supported by the Welsh Government through the UK Local Growth Fund in Wales.

The Town Centre Vibrancy Fund, funded by the UK Government Local Growth Fund and Carmarthenshire County Council, is specifically focused on bringing ground floor vacant properties back into commercial use.

Funding is available to property owners and leaseholders, with a minimum lease requirement of seven years from the date of final payment. Where applications are submitted by landlords intending to let the premises, a pre-let agreement with an end commercial tenant must be in place before a full application is made.

Where properties are owned by Carmarthenshire County Council, applicants must agree a minimum seven-year lease and engage with the Council’s Property Department prior to submission.

While there is no fixed application deadline, applicants are being urged to come forward as soon as possible to ensure projects can be delivered within the current financial year.

The funds have already supported several successful regeneration projects across Carmarthenshire. These include the transformation of Ty Glo in Laugharne, which has been brought back into productive use, and several completed developments in Newcastle Emlyn that are helping to revitalise the town centre.

Another example is Emlyn Kitchens, a project completed approximately 18 months ago, which continues to demonstrate the long-term benefits of investment in local high streets.

Both schemes support the redevelopment of vacant or underused premises, contributing to increased footfall, supporting local businesses and enhancing the overall appeal of town centres.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture & Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans, said: 

Bringing empty buildings back into use is vital for the future of our town centres. These funding opportunities provide a valuable chance for property owners and businesses to invest in their communities while supporting economic growth across Carmarthenshire.

We’ve already seen some excellent examples of what can be achieved through these funds, and we would encourage anyone with a suitable project to come forward as soon as possible.”

For more information, visit: Ten Towns - Carmarthenshire County Council