The Tredegar Arms has received an extensive refurbishment. The building is operating as a luxury hotel, as well as providing restaurant and function room facilities. The building forms a key part of a historic landscape of buildings in Tredegar that were constructed out of the town’s growth from the iron industry.
The STAR Community Centre has been constructed on the former Sirhowy Junior School site and is a modern community facility that provides job support and training facilities. It has been developed in conjunction with the Sirhowy Tenants and Residents association.
The Minister was taken on a tour of both the facilities and introduced to members of the Star Community Centre and the owners of The Tredegar Arms.
Cllr Dai Davies, Executive Member for Regeneration and Economic Development from Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Said:
“Blaenau Gwent Council is delighted that two further facilities are now open to the community and for those visiting the area.
“The refurbishment of The Tredegar Arms forms part of the conservation area where other buildings such as the Grade ll listed former Town Hall and No.10 The Circle, the birthplace of the NHS are also being refurbished as part of the Tredegar THI scheme. Preserving our unique heritage is important to the local community and our history.
“The Star Community will provide additional facilities to the area and support the economic development of the Borough through training and skills development.
“Both facilities will support transforming the area and make a difference to local life. I wish them success.
Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Hannah Blythyn said:
“Supporting town centres is an important cornerstone of our regeneration activities and we are making significant investment in this area through a range of initiatives.
“I am pleased Welsh Government has been able to contribute almost £600,000 of Regeneration funding towards the STAR Community Centre and the Tredegar Arms under the Vibrant and Viable Places Programme.
“The investment with the STAR Centre will help improve access to an important community facility, which will bring people together, to help tackle social isolation, support jobs and provide training opportunities.
“Projects such as this, delivered through the Vibrant and Viable Places Programme, underline the Welsh Government’s commitment to regeneration and tackling poverty in Blaenau Gwent.
“We want to support local businesses, grow our fantastic town centres – and this investment will help to create job opportunities and attract more people to the town, increasing footfall – and I look forward to seeing it flourish and grow.”
Tredegar Arms has been funded by a number of partners, including the owners, THI grant contributions being made up from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government's VVP Tackling Poverty Programme, Cadw , Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Town Centre Loan (TCL) Private Funds and Tourism Grant Micro Small Business Fund Welsh Government (MSBF WG).
The Star Community was funded utilising the Vibrant and Viable Places funding allocated to Tredegar.
Welsh Government Funding includes £245,000 of Regeneration funding towards the STAR Community Centre and £348,000 towards the Tredegar Arms under the Vibrant and Viable Places Programme