KNIGHTON town centre is set for a facelift after more than £60,000 of funding was green-lighted, in order to make the Radnorshire town a more attractive place to visit.

A funding bid submitted to Powys County Council has been successful, which means Knighton Town Council will receive up to £66,759 towards the cost of refurbishing 15 business frontages located on High Street, Broad Street, West Street, Market Street, Bridge Street and Wylcwm Place.

The funding is being provided in the form of a Welsh Government placemaking grant, through its Transforming Towns programme, for up to 70 per cent of the total cost.

The town council is working as a facilitator for the scheme, in partnership with the county council.

“We all want our Powys town centres to thrive and get plenty of footfall,” said Councillor David Selby, Powys County Council’s cabinet member for a More Prosperous Powys.

“We hope these improvements will make Knighton a more attractive place to visit, shop and trade in.”

The Transforming Towns programme in Mid Wales is supported by Powys County Council and Ceredigion County Councils’ economic development and regeneration teams.

Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, on a visit to Knighton earlier this year.Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, on a visit to Knighton earlier this year. (Image: Matt Jones)

The Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme is focused on supporting the vibrancy of our town centres, developing green infrastructure, enabling job creation and improving community facilities and access to services.

Bringing empty properties back into beneficial use is a central pillar of the programme, and Mid Wales has been allocated £7 million since 2022 to deliver town centre regeneration projects.

The placemaking grant is designed to be flexible and is delivered through the local authority, to support smaller scale interventions (up to £250,000 grant) that help improve town centres.

Town and city centres are deemed an essential and personal part of Welsh heritage and community, and the Transforming Towns programme is dedicated to serving and connecting the people who live, work, learn and spend leisure time in them.