The county borough has a broad range of local shopping centres, each with a unique blend of national high street names, balanced with a diverse range of independent retailers.
Each town has its own definitive architecture, derived from a rich and varied cultural heritage. This gives them their distinctive style and character, in addition to providing a range of services for both visitors and the local community.
Local town centres offer a convenient and accessible shopping experience, with strong local connections and values. Farmers Markets and Continental Markets further enhance the retail provision and offer the customer a point of difference. A number of centres have hosted events such as the Big Cheese, Big Screen, Chartist Fair and Flower Festival. These have successfully attracted new visitors to the towns.
Shoppers and visitors have seen the towns in the county borough improve with new retailers opening up and improvements to the public realm and transportation infrastructure. The new Blackwood Interchange Bus station, completed in 2007, has won a CLAW design award.
The towns of Bargoed and Caerphilly both have ambitious plans to enhance their centres with new developments. These will include new retail, service and leisure provision whilst retaining the unique character of the traditional high street.
The three principle town centres are located at Bargoed, Blackwood and Caerphilly.