Greater blackwood masterplan (april 2024)

Contents

1. Introduction

2. The Study Area

3. The Context

4. Vision for Greater Blackwood

5. Development Strategy

6. The Masterplan Framework

7. Delivering and implementing change

Appendix 1: Well-being of Future Generations Goals

Appendix 2: Assessment of Site-Specific Proposals against the National Well-Being Goals and the CCBC Well-Being Objectives

Introduction

This Masterplan sets out development and regeneration opportunities for Greater Blackwood. It seeks to strengthen the economy and improve cultural, environmental and social conditions for residents and visitors.

The Cardiff Capital Region City Deal (CCRCD) has the potential to attract investment and stimulate economic activity. It seeks to rebalance the region’s economy by relieving pressure on Cardiff and by promoting growth in smaller towns and industrial communities. This Masterplan sets out a strategy and a range of projects compatible with the CCRCD.

The City Deal Investment Fund will support the completion of the Southeast Wales Metro. Improvements to bus services, which provide a high level of accessibility throughout the area, are part of the overall package. It is anticipated that future phases of Metro development will create a railway station at Crumlin and faster links throughout the Masterplan area.

As a comprehensive but flexible framework, the Masterplan will be reviewed in line with the Regeneration Strategy (the most recent version of which is ‘A Foundation for Success’) and four other Masterplans that sit underneath it. Some projects could be completed before the first review, but others will take more than five years to complete.

The current Regeneration Strategy (‘A Foundation for Success’) sets out four key themes:

• Supporting Business
• Connecting People and Places
• Supporting People
• Supporting Quality of Life.

The Masterplan discusses development in general, but it also identifies sites that should be protected, developed or redeveloped. It supports housing proposals in sustainable locations and encourages greater activity in business, leisure, education and the visitor economy. It seeks to establish Blackwood as a sub-regional centre that is well connected to other parts of the Masterplan area and the wider county borough.

Four of the five Masterplans that sit under ‘A Foundation for Success’ have been prepared and approved as follows:

• Caerphilly Basin Masterplan (July 2018)
• Ystrad Mynach Masterplan (April 2019)
• Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Area Masterplan (November 2020)
• Lower Ebbw and Sirhowy Valleys Masterplan (October 2022)

The Regeneration Strategy and the associated Masterplans provide the basis for capturing and maximising regeneration and grant funding opportunities to improve the County Borough.

The Masterplan includes several proposals that figure in the adopted Caerphilly County Borough Local Development Plan (LDP). The LDP sets out land-use objectives for the County Borough as well as longer-term goals that extend into the next decade. A revised LDP (the 2nd Replacement Local Development Plan) will provide the policy framework for development until 2035.

The study area

Greater Blackwood is near the centre of Caerphilly County Borough. It is sufficiently far from Caerphilly, Cardiff and Newport to be a distinct area with its own industrial, commercial, leisure and tourism sectors.

In 2021, the area had a population of 37,754 (source: 2021 census), and it consists of 23 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs), seven of which (Blackwood 2, Cefn Fforest 1, Cefn Fforest 2, Crumlin 3, Peng am 1, Pengam 2, and Pontllanfraith 2) are in the bottom 25% of LSOAs in Wales, measured by overall deprivation. Deprivation tends to be concentrated in built-up areas.

The Adopted LDP identifies three strategy areas in the County Borough: The Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Area, the Northern Connections Corridor (NCC), and the Southern Connections Corridor (SCC). The Masterplan area forms the eastern part of the NCC.

Greater Blackwood has a Principal Town Centre (Blackwood) and three neighbourhood centres (Cefn Fforest, Crumlin and Oakdale). It comprises the wards of Blackwood, Cefn Fforest & Pengam, Crumlin, Maesycwmmer, Penmaen, and Pontllanfraith.

Greater Blackwood’s main employment sectors are manufacturing, wholesale/retail, education, public administration and human health. The Adopted LDP protects 11 employment sites within the Masterplan area, namely: Plateau 2, Oakdale Business Park; Penyfan, Croespenmaen; Croespenmaen, Oakdale; Penmaen; Newbridge Road, Pontllanfraith; Tram Road, Pontllanfraith; Switchgear, Pontllanfraith; Woodfieldside, Pontllanfraith; St. David’s, Pengam; Britannia, Pengam; and Hawtin Park, Gellihaf. Together, these have a combined area of approximately 171 hectares.

The main visitor attractions in or near Greater Blackwood are:

• Blackwood Miners’ Welfare Institute (known as the ‘BMI’);
• Bryn Meadows Golf & Country Club and Hotel (4* facility);
• Cefn Fforest Eco Park;
• Chartist bridge and statue;
• Maes Manor Hotel (listed 3* facility);
• Maesycwmmer-Hengoed viaduct;
• Oakdale Model Village;
• Pen-y-Fan Pond;
• Pen-y-Fan Caravan Park.

The main transport routes include the A469, the A472, the B4251, the B4254, the A4048 and the B4252. The nearest railway stations (Newbridge, Hengoed, Pengam and Ystrad Mynach) are outside the Masterplan area, but it is anticipated that the South Wales Metro Plus projects will deliver a new station at Crumlin in the longer term. Blackwood town centre has a modern bus station, and frequent bus services allow people to travel both within and beyond the Masterplan area.

The context

In providing the context to the Masterplan it is important to understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that currently exist in Greater Blackwood.

Strengths

• Attractive landscape.
• Strong and broad employment base.
• Blackwood town centre has a strong mix of national retailers and independent businesses and has performed reasonably well despite the challenges of Covid and changes in retailing.
• Blackwood town centre’s evening-and-night-time economy is strong owing to the presence of Maxime Cinema (the only cinema in the County Borough), Blackwood Miners Institute, Blackwood Little Theatre).
• Good network of active travel routes with excellent connections to the national cycle network.
• A472 comprises part of the strategic east-west mid-valleys corridor, providing a strategic link through the Masterplan area. This route is being considered for a future Metro rapid transit route.
• Good north-south links to Tredegar and Newport.
• Sirhowy Enterprise Way provides excellent access from Blackwood to the County Borough’s principal employment centre of Oakdale Business Park and Pen-y-fan Industrial Estate.
• Attractive public parks.
• Welsh-medium secondary school (Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, Fleur-de-Lys) helps to promote the Welsh language.
• Maes Manor and Bryn Meadows Golf Course offer good-quality visitor accommodation.
• Most settlements have a good range and choice of housing.

Challenges

• Higher than Welsh average number of people employed in manufacturing sector, which is vulnerable to the effects of a recession.
• Almost 8% of the population is in bad or very bad health (source: 2021 census).
• Many town-centre businesses are in small, old buildings.
• Parts of Blackwood town centre look dated.
• Residents and visitors receive too little information about local attractions.
• Too little visitor accommodation.
• Greater Blackwood lacks its own railway station, and non-car journeys between nearby stations (Newbridge, Hengoed, Pengam and Ystrad Mynach) could be improved.
• The A472 strategic route through Maesycwmmer gets congested at peak times.

Opportunities

• More flexible approach to land uses in town centre.
• Create livelier streets in Blackwood town centre by encouraging space for temporary uses, pop-up stalls, markets and increasing the number of events in the town centre.
• South Wales Metro and Metro Plus (improved rail services and a strategic mid-valleys rapid route along the A472 that will make it easier to get to Blackwood town centre).
• Links to valleys-wide cycle-path network through the active travel and national cycle networks.
• New sources of regeneration funding.
• Make better use of public open space for the benefit of residents and visitors.
• Changes in work patterns may reduce congestion on roads at traditional peak times.

Threats

• Post-shutdown recession and inflation (job losses, cuts to public services (including transport), reduction in retail base).
• Competition from larger retail and leisure centres (including out-of-town shops).
• Internet shopping.
• Less regeneration funding may be available.
• Ageing population.

Vision for greater blackwood

The analysis in Section 3 leads to a Vision that seeks to make the most of Greater Blackwood’s strengths and opportunities:

‘Greater Blackwood will be an attractive and prosperous place in which people choose to live, work and spend their free time. New housing will meet local needs in sustainable locations, and Blackwood’s town centre will be busy and sociable both during the day and at night. The area will have a strong and varied economy, an efficient and environmentally responsible transport system, and sustainable community facilities that promote well-being.’

Strategic objectives

A. Protect and enhance Greater Blackwood’s status as a sub-regional employment centre by:

• Protecting established employment sites;
• Redeveloping underused or vacant employment land;
• Identifying sites for new job-creating uses;
• Diversifying uses in Blackwood town centre (see Objective B);
• Encouraging appropriate development in smaller commercial centres;
• Improving the visitor economy (see Objective C); and
• Strengthening links between schools, colleges and employers.

It is important to maximise all employment opportunities. Maintaining and protecting the existing employment sites, redeveloping vacant and underused land and taking opportunities presented in other sectors of the economy are key elements in establishing this. It should also be possible to identify sites for new job-creating uses.

B. Establish Blackwood town centre as a sub-regional hub that is attractive, accessible and busy both during the day and at night.

Blackwood town centre, with its cinema, bus station, shops, pubs, cafés and entertainment venues, can be a sub-regional hub of culture and commerce. Because shopping habits have changed, the Masterplan seeks to expand the evening-and-night-time economy and to create a more attractive and pedestrian-friendly townscape. Mixed-use developments will help to make the town centre busy and sociable both during the day and at night. The Masterplan will encourage ‘linked trips’ between the town centre and other attractions in Greater Blackwood.

C. Expand and diversify the visitor economy.

Expanding and diversifying the visitor economy will help to stimulate economic activity. Like the rest of the County Borough, Greater Blackwood needs more visitor accommodation. People should be encouraged to visit attractions throughout the area. Improvements in active travel and public transport will support this objective.

D. Improve transport links both within and beyond Greater Blackwood.

The Masterplan seeks to improve transport links between residential areas, commercial centres, employment sites and visitor attractions. A better transport system has the potential to stimulate social and economic activity and to create a fairer, more inclusive community.

E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.

Community facilities (e.g. community centres, primary/secondary schools, parks, the countryside, sports pitches and our strategic leisure centres) can help people to be socially, culturally and physically active. Where there is a business case, we will invest in key, strategic facilities to ensure they are appropriate, attractive, inspirational and lifestyle convenient alongside working to maximise the impact of all community amenities in line with the Council’s approved Sport and Active Recreation Strategy.

F. Provide housing that will meet local needs in sustainable locations.

Greater Blackwood needs both ‘market’ and ‘affordable’ housing. The Masterplan will give priority to the redevelopment of vacant, underused and/or ‘brownfield’ land for housing in easy-to-reach places.

Development strategy

This section will set out the development strategy in the Masterplan area. Specific sites will be considered in the next section (‘The Masterplan Framework’).

Climate change and decarbonisation

The 2015 Paris Agreement, adopted by 196 countries at a United Nations Climate Change Conference, seeks to hold ‘the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels’ and to pursue efforts ‘to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels’.

Along with the Welsh Government, Caerphilly County Borough Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. The Council has also committed itself to becoming a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030.

Decarbonisation is about reducing and, eventually, eliminating CO2 emissions associated with human activity. In practice, the decarbonisation effort will involve shifting from fossil fuels to alternative low-carbon energy sources.

The Council’s Decarbonisation Strategy has four principles: Reduce, Produce, Offset and Buy. The Council will reduce consumption levels, produce its own green clean electricity, offset carbon emissions, and look to limit its carbon impact through the goods and services that it buys. The Council intends to:

• Reduce the use of carbon in buildings (old and new), street lighting, transport and waste management;
• Produce green electricity and heat;
• Use natural energy sources (for example, hydrogen);
• Offset carbon emissions (planting trees, managing existing woodland, rewilding wetlands, using sustainable drainage solutions, divesting fossil fuel use, investing in sustainable industries); and
• Buy from sustainable and/or local producers.

As far as possible, the projects identified in this Masterplan and any subsequent placemaking plans should follow the principles of the Decarbonisation Strategy.

Employment and skills

The Masterplan area has 11 sites protected for employment use in the Adopted LDP as follows:

• Plateau 2, Oakdale Business Park (primary site) (13.04 hectares)
• Penyfan, Croespenmaen (primary site) (73.01 hectares)
• Croespenmaen, Oakdale (secondary site) (6.53 hectares)
• Penmaen (secondary site) (5.95 hectares)
• Newbridge Road, Pontllanfraith (secondary site) (12.75 hectares)
• Tram Road, Pontllanfraith (secondary site) (2.49 hectares)
• Switchgear, Pontllanfraith (secondary site) (10.06 hectares)
• Woodfieldside, Pontllanfraith (secondary site) (1.94 hectares)
• St. David’s, Pengam (secondary site) (5.16 hectares)
• Britannia, Pengam (secondary site) (2.88 hectares)
• Hawtin Park, Gellihaf (primary site) (29.82 hectares)

These sites provide approximately 164 hectares of employment opportunities, and it is essential that these sites continue to be protected in the 2nd Replacement LDP. While these sites need to be protected to retain their employment status, it is also important that they can evolve to meet the future needs of business, and a flexible approach towards their modernisation and redevelopment should be taken.

Four employment Plateaux at Oakdale Business Park were allocated for employment use in the Adopted LDP. Plateau 3 has been redeveloped for Islwyn High School, and employment development has taken place on Plateaux 1, 2 and 4. The remaining parcels of land on the Plateaux are expected to be taken up in the short to medium term.

Like the rest of the County Borough, Greater Blackwood needs small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and ‘starter’ business units, but it also needs larger sites that will attract new employers and allow established businesses to expand. It is important that people can walk, cycle or take public transport to major employment sites, especially Oakdale Business Park.

Foundational economy (including visitor economy)

The foundational economy consists of basic services and products that keep us safe, sound and civilised. Elements of the foundational economy include:

• Care and health services;
• Food;
• Housing;
• Energy;
• Construction;
• Tourism;
• Retailers on the high street. 

Caerphilly Tourism Association (CTA), a group of local tourism businesses, already advertises the county borough’s attractions to potential visitors. To have a stronger visitor economy, Greater Blackwood will need more prominent attractions, more visitor accommodation and easier journeys between attractions, commercial centres and leisure facilities. Also near Greater Blackwood are several regionally important visitor attractions, such as Cwmcarn Forest, Afan Forest Park, Raglan Castle, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (formerly known as Brecon Beacons National Park) and Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Masterplan seeks to expand the foundational economy through strategic objectives B, C, D and F.

Blackwood town centre

Blackwood town centre should be safe, attractive and busy both during the day and at night. In addition to having a mix of compatible uses, it should be easy to reach from other parts of Greater Blackwood. It should be known as a place where people can live, work, learn and enjoy spending time together.

Recreation and leisure

Greater Blackwood has recreation and leisure facilities that appeal to every section of society. Formal facilities include Pen-y-Fan Pond, public parks and gardens, sports pitches, bowling greens, skate parks, kick-walls, playgrounds, Multi-Use Games Areas, which collectively offer a wide range of recreational opportunities. The Masterplan will support efforts to make better use of these facilities for residents and visitors alike.

Transport and connectivity

The main transport routes in the Masterplan area include the A469, the A472, the B4251, the B4254, the A4048 and the B4252. The nearest railway stations are outside the Masterplan area, but it is anticipated that the South Wales Metro Plus project will deliver a new station at Crumlin, which would better serve Oakdale and Penyfan Business Parks. Blackwood town centre has a bus station, and frequent bus services allow people to travel both within and beyond the Masterplan area. The South Wales Metro Plus project may create an east-to-west rapid-transit route along the A472. This route would increase accessibility to Blackwood and the employment centre at Oakdale/Penyfan. A quick and frequent east-west service would provide an essential link for existing north-south metro routes to increase accessibility and connectivity and simplify journeys to places such as Caerphilly and Oakdale Business Park.

Active travel

The term ‘active travel’ refers to ‘purposeful’ journeys made on foot, in wheelchairs or on bicycles. The destination of an ‘active-travel journey’ might be a workplace, a school, a shop, a railway station or a visitor attraction. Active-travel routes can improve public health and make places easier to reach. The development strategy seeks to develop the local economy by linking attractions, town centres and large employment sites (for example, Oakdale Business Park). Greater Blackwood already has an extensive network of active travel routes, and these have been identified, along with potential improvements to the network, in the Council’s Active Travel Network Map (ATNM) (see project D2 for more details).

Community facilities

The Masterplan will support the enhancement of sustainable facilities in line with the adopted LDP and the Council’s Sport and Active Recreation Strategy. It will also support the creation of community facilities in suitable locations.

Housing

For social and environmental reasons, empty houses should be brought back into use as quickly as possible. Underused land in sustainable locations may be suitable for housing, and vacant commercial buildings may be suitable for conversion into flats or houses. Greater Blackwood does need newly built housing, however, and the Adopted LDP allocates both brownfield and greenfield sites for development. ‘Windfall’ projects such as those at the former Oakdale Comprehensive School and at Chartist Garden Village (former Council offices), Pontllanfraith, can also help to meet the need for both ‘market’ and ‘affordable’ housing (see Masterplan projects F4 and F6, respectively).

The masterplan framework

This section sets out site-specific proposals that will help to achieve the vision for the Masterplan area. Many projects are interrelated, but some could be carried out individually.

A. Protect and enhance the Masterplan area’s status as a sub-regional employment centre by:

• Protecting established employment sites;
• Redeveloping underused or vacant employment land;
• Identifying sites for new job-creating uses;
• Diversifying uses in Blackwood town centre;
• Encouraging appropriate development in smaller commercial centres;
• Enhancing or creating visitor attractions; and
• Strengthening links between schools, colleges and employers.

A1 – oakdale plateaux, oakdale

These sites are either allocated or protected for employment uses in the LDP (see policies EM1.3: Plateau, Oakdale (primary site), EM1.4: Plateau 2, Oakdale (primary site), EM1.5: Plateau 3, Oakdale (primary site) and EM1.6: Plateau 4, Oakdale (primary site)). The ‘plateaux’ are parts of Oakdale Business Park, a 400-acre former colliery with a mix of offices and industrial buildings.

Plateau 1 is in the process of being sold to Welsh Government. Once purchased the WG has committed to invest circa £3m in the site to provide the necessary infrastructure to facilitate its future redevelopment.

Plateau 2: Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) has established a new Northern Valleys Initiative (NVI) that will specifically look to address the viability challenges across a number of focused areas, one of which is strategic sites and premises. The Council is working closely with the CCR via the NVI to undertake the necessary preparatory work to unlock Plateau 2 to enable the private sector to redevelop the site and to create additional jobs.

Plateau 4 is likely to be sold to private developers once certain technical issues have been settled.

Development principles:

• Create a cluster of job-creating uses near housing, transport infrastructure and proposed cycleways;
• Extend the access road and make undeveloped land available for small ‘starter’ buildings;
• Increase the status of, and investment in, Greater Blackwood;
• Diversify the area’s economy and employment base.

A2 – protect, upgrade or redevelop existing employment sites

The Adopted LDP has identified 11 employment sites for protection under policy EM2. These sites collectively provide approximately 164 hectares of land and provide a wide range of existing employment opportunities. It is essential that these sites be protected, upgraded or redeveloped if they become vacant or underused.

B. Establish Blackwood town centre as a sub-regional hub that is attractive, accessible and busy both during the day and at night.

B1 – blackwood square, blackwood

A new town square and/or market, surrounded by a mix of compatible uses, would make the town centre busier and more attractive.

Development principles:

• Reuse previously developed land;
• Create jobs and stimulate economic activity in the town centre;
• Help to sustain a defined settlement and a defined town centre;
• Developed site should create, and join, an environment that is safe and convenient for active travellers;
• Chance to add to the mix of uses in the town centre.

B2 – diverse uses, renovated buildings, vacant units

Prominent buildings should be maintained and, where possible, improved, and mixed-use developments will help to make the town centre busy both during the day and at night. For example, with the help of WG Transforming Towns Funding, the former ‘Store 21’ (87-89, High Street) has been redeveloped into five smaller shops and nine flats. A flexible approach to managing the centre should encourage the use of vacant units for one-off events or temporary businesses.

B3 – environmental and accessibility enhancements

A Placemaking Plan for Blackwood town centre is being prepared. The plan will consider the town centre as a whole and make recommendations on redevelopment opportunities, diversification and environmental improvements to enhance the town’s strong identity. Proposed heritage trails might help to increase not only footfall but the duration of a typical visit.

B4 – evening-and-night-time economy

Maxime Cinema, Blackwood Miners’ Institute (BMI), Little Blackwood Theatre and several pubs already attract residents and visitors to the town centre in the evening. Even so, a town of Blackwood’s size would benefit from additional bars, restaurants and live-music venues. The Masterplan will support efforts to expand the evening-and-night-time economy and advertise the town centre as a ‘package’ of after-dark attractions.

B5 – town-centre events

The town centre held an ‘urban beach party’ in July 2023, and a winter-themed food-and-craft fair will take place every November. Other kinds of festivals and exhibitions might appeal to residents and visitors alike. A well-known food-and-drink festival, for instance, might help to establish Blackwood as a sub-regional centre, making both the town and the surrounding area more attractive to investors and developers. An event to celebrate the area’s rich mining history, directing people to heritage trails and drawing attention to the BMI and its distinctive architecture, will be explored.

Expand and diversify the visitor economy.

C1 – blackwood miners’ institute (‘bmi’)

The Blackwood Miners’ Institute (known as the ‘BMI’) was built as a snooker hall in 1925. Later additions included a reading room, a library, a stage, rehearsal rooms for local societies, and the Main Hall. With coalpits beginning to close in the 1970s, the BMI fell into disrepair and was eventually sold to Caerphilly County Borough Council in 1989. It is now an entertainment venue with a varied programme of events. The management will organise more outdoor events to attract new visitors to the area.

Development principles:

• Promote the BMI as a sub-regional attraction;
• Expand the range of events to include outdoor events and other functions;
• Maximise the use of the ancillary facilities including meeting spaces, dance studio and hospitality services;
• Place the BMI at the centre of a ‘package’ of after-dark attractions.

Improve transport links both within and beyond Greater Blackwood.

D1 – south wales metro and metro plus

The South Wales Metro and Metro Plus programmes will bring about the following improvements in or near the Masterplan area:

• More frequent rail services;
• A railway station at Crumlin (Metro Plus proposal);
• Improvements to existing railway stations (more attractive environments, step-free access);
• A mid-valleys rapid transit route along the A472 strategic east-west link, increasing accessibility to Blackwood town centre and the main employment centre at Oakdale/Penyfan.

D2 – improvements to llanhilleth and newbridge railway stations

A multi-million-pound investment programme at Newbridge railway station will create an hourly service between Ebbw Vale and Newport, giving residents of the Masterplan area greater access to jobs, goods and services. The programme will also extend existing platforms, create new platforms and improve facilities at both Llanhilleth station and Newbridge station.

D3 – active travel

The Council’s Active Travel Network Map (ATNM) identifies almost 400 improvements to walking and/or cycling routes. The ATNM is an aspirational map that sets out Caerphilly CBC’s Active Travel proposals for the next 15 years. The development and delivery of proposals will depend on the availability of funding. The routes shown are indicative alignments that may be subject to change as routes are further developed. The ATNM is available here:

HYPERLINK "https://datamap.gov.wales/maps/active-travel-network-maps/"

D4 – bus services

Bus services operate within and beyond the Masterplan area but vary in both frequency and time span. For instance, while Blackwood Interchange offers early-morning and night services, Britannia has a half-hourly service that stops before six o’clock in the evening.

South Wales Metro Plus is considering a mid-valleys strategic rapid route that will increase accessibility to Blackwood town centre and the main employment centre at Oakdale/Penyfan.

D5 – electric vehicles

Welsh Government policy favours the use of electric vehicles over those with internal combustion engines. Charging points are available at the Council-owned High Street, Bus Station and Market Traders car parks in Blackwood and are proposed for the Blackwood Showfield Playground car park. The Masterplan will support the creation of rental schemes and charging points for electric bicycles.

E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.

E1 – blackwood little theatre, woodbine road, blackwood

Founded in 1929, Blackwood Little Theatre is a small theatre group that puts on pantomimes, comedies, dramas and competition pieces for people of all ages in the local community.

Development principle:

• Promote venue to stimulate the evening-and-night-time economy in Blackwood town centre.

E2 – cefn fforest miners’ institute, bryn road, cefn fforest

A charity has been set up to restore and manage Cefn Fforest Miners’ Institute. After several stages of renovation, the institute will be a venue for social, educational, recreational and cultural activities. It may eventually have a community café, meeting rooms and offices.

E3 – navigation colliery, crumlin

Vacant since 1967, Navigation Colliery has a mix of Grade II and Grade II* listed buildings. A group of volunteers, Friends of the Navigation, intends to restore the buildings and open them to businesses and community groups. It may be possible to hold events and generate ‘green’ electricity on the site as well.

A draft masterplan was written in 2021, but the ‘Friends’ are likely to need to apply for funding before any major development can begin.

If the Metro project were to create a railway station in Crumlin, Navigation Colliery would be well connected to other parts of south Wales.

WHQS Environmental Improvement Programme

The Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) is a set of standards that all local-authority and housing-association homes in Wales must meet. An environmental standard requires that ‘all homes should be located in an environment to which residents can relate and in which they can be proud to live’.

The following projects are being progressed as part of this programme:

E4 – trinant shopping centre, trinant

New landscaping, benches and lights will make Trinant’s shopping centre more attractive and more accessible. The project should be completed in 2023 and may increase social and economic activity in the area.

E5 – skatepark, blackwood showfield playground

A skatepark will be built between a children’s playground and an outdoor gym before the end of 2024. This facility will help to increase social and physical activity within several age groups.

E6 – maesycwmmer park, maesycwmmer

Since December 2021, the Council has improved the playground and built a multi-play unit and an outdoor gym. A concrete skatepark will be built before the end of 2024. This facility will help to increase social and physical activity within several age groups.

Education

The Sustainable Communities for Learning programme is a collaboration between the Welsh Government and local authorities in Wales. It is a long-term strategic capital investment programme with the aim of creating a generation of 21st Century Schools in Wales.

The ‘vision’ for Caerphilly is: ‘To provide every learner with the best life chances … through the provision of high-quality teaching, learning and leadership across our school settings.’

E7 – blackwood comprehensive school, blackwood

Improve facilities at Blackwood Comprehensive School, including a new heating system, curtain walls, new roofing and improved changing rooms.

E8 – pengam library, pengam

A purpose-built extension will hold Welsh-language childcare sessions on school days. Morning and afternoon sessions will be available to children aged two or three. The service may expand according to demand for all-day care for pre-school children of every age.

E9 – ysgol gymraeg cwm derwen, oakdale

Old demountable classrooms will be removed, a new four-classroom block will create 60 school places, and two Welsh-medium childcare providers will move to another part of the school.

E10 – former pontllanfraith comprehensive school, pontllanfraith

A Centre for Vulnerable Learners will be built on one part of the former school (see planning permission 22/0994/LA), and a four-court sports hall, a multi-use 3G pitch and a respite centre are proposed elsewhere on the site.

Development principles:

• Reuse previously developed land;
• Efficient use of land (high-density development);
• Create community facilities;
• Help to meet local demand for housing;
• Improve local townscape.

Provide housing that will meet local needs in sustainable locations.

This section has a mix of ‘new’ sites that have planning permission and sites that are both allocated in the Adopted LDP and available for development.

F1 – cwm gelli farm, blackwood

In April 2016 outline planning permission was granted on appeal (15/0252/OUT / APP/K6920/A/15/3137884) for up to 120 dwellings. Development has commenced on the site.

F2 – pencoed avenue, cefn fforest (hg1.27 in adopted ldp)

The eastern part of the site has been developed for 16 affordable dwellings, and the western area, which is served by new road infrastructure, remains suitable, in principle, for housing.

F3 – land at ton-y-felin farm, croespenmaen

In September 2020 planning permission was granted for the erection of 60 dwellings (17/0888/FULL), and development has begun.

F4 – former oakdale comprehensive school, oakdale

The school has been demolished, and Caerphilly Homes has outline planning permission (21/1192/OUT) to build up to 99 dwellings (about half of which would be ‘affordable’).

Development principles:

• High-density development;
• Give priority to walking, wheeling and cycling;
• Connect site to existing and proposed cycleways;
• Help to meet local demand for housing;
• Provide public open space.

F5 – tredegar junction hotel, pontllanfraith

Planning permission (12/0787/FULL, renewed under 18/0594/NCC) has been granted for the conversion of the former pub into seven flats and for the erection of 6 new units to the rear.

F6 – chartist garden village (former pontllanfraith house), pontllanfraith

Chartist Garden Village, whose architecture is based on the original garden-city movement, will have 123 dwellings (a mix of houses and flats), about two thirds of which will be ‘affordable’.

F7 – land at gellideg heights, maesycwmmer (hg 1.40 in adopted ldp)

This four-hectare site remains suitable, in principle, for housing or a mix of uses.

Development principles:

• Reuse previously developed and underused land;
• Efficient use of land (high-density development);
• Help to meet local demand for housing;
• Improve local townscape.

F8 – ty melin, croespenmaen

Existing residents will be moved from Ty Melin to purpose-built homes at the former Oakdale Comprehensive School (see project F4). Caerphilly Homes will clear the Ty Melin site and liaise with the Planning Department to establish whether the site is suitable for the development of new houses and/or flats.

Development principles:

• Reuse previously developed and underused land;
• Efficient use of land (high-density development);
• Help to meet local demand for housing;
• Improve local townscape.

F9 – ynyswen sheltered housing, pontllanfraith

Internal and external layouts have been reconfigured to provide 13 accessible flats, wheelchair-accessible ramps and patio areas, new parking spaces and new ambulance bays.

Development principle:

• Help to meet local demand for sheltered and accessible housing.

Delivering and implementing change

Masterplan strategic objective	Project/opportunity	Description	Expected/indicative output(s)	Objectives of regeneration strategy met	Funding secured and potential costs
A. Protect and enhance Greater Blackwood’s status as a sub-regional employment centre by:- Protecting established employment sites;- Redeveloping underused or vacant employment land;- Identifying sites for new job-creating uses;- Diversifying uses in Blackwood town centre;- Encouraging appropriate development in smaller commercial centres;- Improving the visitor economy;- Strengthening links between schools, colleges and employers.	A1. Oakdale Plateaux, Oakdale	Employment uses	- Additional jobs	SB2: Supporting economic growth and innovationSQL3: Active Place Making	TBC
A. Protect and enhance Greater Blackwood’s status as a sub-regional employment centre by:- Protecting established employment sites;- Redeveloping underused or vacant employment land;- Identifying sites for new job-creating uses;- Diversifying uses in Blackwood town centre;- Encouraging appropriate development in smaller commercial centres;- Improving the visitor economy;- Strengthening links between schools, colleges and employers.	A2. Protect and redevelop existing employment sites	Protect and redevelop sites if land becomes underused or vacant so that the employment function in the Masterplan will remain strong.	- Protected jobs- Additional jobs	SB2: Supporting economic growth and innovation	Ongoing task. Private investors likely to bear any costs.
B. Establish Blackwood town centre as a sub-regional hub that is attractive, accessible and busy both during the day and at night.	B1. Blackwood Square, Blackwood	Commercial development	- Additional jobs- Increased footfall and spending in town centre- Improved streetscape- More night-time uses	SB1: Building a more resilient and diversified economySB2: Supporting economic growth and innovationSQL3: Active Place MakingSQL7: Refocus on town centres to serve the needs of residents and business	TBC
B. Establish Blackwood town centre as a sub-regional hub that is attractive, accessible and busy both during the day and at night.	B2. Diverse uses, renovated buildings, vacant units	Prominent buildings should be maintained and, where possible, improved. Mixed-use developments will help to make the town centre busy both during the day and at night. A flexible approach to managing the centre should encourage the use of vacant units for one-off events or short-term businesses.	- Broaden and strengthen the night-time economy- Commercial employment opportunities, including offices and services, in existing retail units should be considered more favourably	SB1: Building a more resilient and diversified economySB2: Supporting economic growth and innovationSQL3: Active Place MakingSQL4: Maximise the tourism potential of the County Borough to become an established tourism destination.SQL7: Refocus on town centres to serve the needs of residents and business	Gradual change. Public sector likely to bear the costs.
B. Establish Blackwood town centre as a sub-regional hub that is attractive, accessible and busy both during the day and at night.	B3. Environmental and accessibility enhancements	Make the town centre safer, more attractive and more convenient for pedestrians	- Broaden and strengthen the night-time economy- Commercial employment opportunities, including offices and services, in existing retail units should be considered more favourably	SB1: Building a more resilient and diversified economySB2: Supporting economic growth and innovationSQL3: Active Place MakingSQL4: Maximise the tourism potential of the County Borough to become an established tourism destinationB. Establish Blackwood town centre as a sub-regional hub that is attractive, accessible and busy both during the day and at night.SQL7: Refocus on town centres to serve the needs of residents and business	Gradual change. Public sector likely to bear the costs.
B. Establish Blackwood town centre as a sub-regional hub that is attractive, accessible and busy both during the day and at night.	B4. Evening-and-night-time economy	Expand the evening-and-night-time economy and advertise the town centre as a ‘package’ of after-dark attractions.	- Broaden and strengthen the night-time economy- Commercial employment opportunities, including offices and services, in existing retail units should be considered more favourably	SB1: Building a more resilient and diversified economySB2: Supporting economic growth and innovationSQL3: Active Place MakingSQL4: Maximise the tourism potential of the County Borough to become an established tourism destinationSQL7: Refocus on town centres to serve the needs of residents and business	Gradual change. Public sector likely to bear the costs.
B. Establish Blackwood town centre as a sub-regional hub that is attractive, accessible and busy both during the day and at night.	B5. Town-centre events	Support public events such as festivals and exhibitions would appeal to residents and visitors alike.	- Broaden and strengthen the night-time economy- Commercial employment opportunities, including offices and services, in existing retail units should be considered more favourably	SB1: Building a more resilient and diversified economySB2: Supporting economic growth and innovationSQL3: Active Place MakingSQL4: Maximise the tourism potential of the County Borough to become an established tourism destinationSQL7: Refocus on town centres to serve the needs of residents and business	Gradual change. Public sector and private sector may share the costs.
C. Expand and diversify the visitor economy.	C1. Blackwood Miners’ Welfare Institute (BMI)	Should be promoted as a central part not only of Blackwood town centre’s after-dark attractions but of Greater Blackwood’s ‘package’ of visitor attractions.	- More visitors to Blackwood and the rest of the Masterplan area- Additional demand for accommodation and hospitality- Stimulate social and cultural activity	SB2: Supporting economic growth and innovationSQL2: Improve access to culture, leisure and the artsSQL4: Maximise the tourism potential of the County Borough to become an established tourism destinationSQL7: Refocus on town centres to serve the needs of residents and business	TBC
D. Improve transport links both within and beyond Greater Blackwood.	D1. South Wales Metro and Metro Plus improvements	Additional services. More frequent services. Possibility of a new station at Crumlin. Mid-valleys rapid transit route along the A472 strategic east-west link.	- More rail passengers- Less congestion on roads	CPP2: Promote Public Transport Integration and Connectivity	Transport for Wales will bear the costs and manage the projects.
D. Improve transport links both within and beyond Greater Blackwood.	D2. Improvements to Llanhilleth and Newbridge railway stations	Hourly service between Ebbw Vale Town and Newport. Improved accessibility and facilities. New and extended platforms.	- More rail passengers- Less congestion on roads	CPP2: Promote Public Transport Integration and Connectivity	Transport for Wales will bear the costs and manage the projects.
D. Improve transport links both within and beyond Greater Blackwood.	D3. Active travel	Improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes in the Masterplan area	- Promote physical activity- Improve links between important places-Less congestion on roads	SP8: Support interventions to improve healthSQL2: Improve access to culture, leisure and the artsSQL3: Active Place Making	TBC
D. Improve transport links both within and beyond Greater Blackwood.	D4. Bus services	Maintain, if not increase, frequency and range of bus services to give more people an alternative to driving (or being driven)	- Less congestion on roads	CPP2: Promote Public Transport Integration and Connectivity	TBC
D. Improve transport links both within and beyond Greater Blackwood.	D5. Electric vehicles	Develop a network of vehicle charging points. Promote use of electric bicycles	- Greater use of electric vehicles- Improved local air quality	n/a	TBC
E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.	E1. Blackwood Little Theatre, Blackwood	Promote as community arts facility	- Stimulate social activity- Draw visitors to the Masterplan area	SQL3: Active Place MakingSQL2: Improve access to culture, leisure and the arts	TBC
E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.	E2. Cefn Fforest Miners’ Institute, Cefn Fforest	Promote as a community facility	- Stimulate social activity	SP8: Support interventions to improve healthSQL2: Improve access to culture, leisure and the artsSQL3: Active Place Making	Charity may have to bid for funding.
E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.	E3. Navigation Colliery, Crumlin	Promote as both a community facility and a place of business	- Stimulate social activity- Stimulate economic activity- Protect historic buildings	SB2: Supporting economic growth and innovationSP8: Support interventions to improve healthSQL3: Active Place Making	Possibility: Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) heritage grant
E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.	E4. Trinant shopping centre, Trinant	Improve local shopping area (new landscaping, benches, lights).	- Stimulate social and cultural activity- Stimulate economic activity	SB2: Supporting economic growth and innovationSQL3: Active Place Making	£125,000 (WHQS (Welsh Housing Quality Standard) Environmental Programme)
E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.	E5. Skatepark, Blackwood Showfield Playground	Creation of community facility.	- Stimulate social and cultural activity- Promote physical activity	SQL2: Improve access to culture, leisure and the artsSP8: Support interventions to improve healthSQL3: Active Place Making	£130,000 (WHQS (Welsh Housing Quality Standard) Environmental Programme)
E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.	E6. Maesycwmmer Park, Maesycwmmer	Improve a community facility (upgraded playground, multi-play unit, outdoor gym, concrete skatepark).	- Stimulate social and cultural activity- Promote physical activity	SQL2: Improve access to culture, leisure and the artsSP8: Support interventions to improve healthSQL3: Active Place Making	£100,000 – 150,000 (mix of WHQS (Welsh Housing Quality Standard) Environmental Programme, other funding and Maesycwmmer Community Council)
E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.	E7. Blackwood Comprehensive School, Blackwood	Improve facilities at Blackwood Comprehensive School, including a new heating system, curtain walls, new roofing and improved changing rooms.	- Stimulate social activity	SQL3: Active Place Making	£1,420,000 (grant)
E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.	E8. Pengam Library, Pengam	Additional childcare services.	- Stimulate social activity- Stimulate economic activity	SB2: Supporting economic growth and innovation	£865,942.80 (Welsh Government childcare grant)
E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.	E9. Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen, Oakdale	Old demountable classrooms to be removed. New four-classroom block to create 60 school places. Two Welsh-medium childcare providers to move to another part of the school.	- Stimulate social and cultural activity	SQL2: Improve access to culture, leisure and the arts	£1,620,000.00 (grant)
E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.	E10. Former Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School, Pontllanfraith	Centre for Vulnerable Learners, four-court sports hall, multi-use 3G pitch, respite centre.	- Stimulate social and cultural activity- Promote physical activity	SQL2: Improve access to culture, leisure and the artsSP8: Support interventions to improve healthSQL3: Active Place Making	Funding secured through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. Project should be completed before the end of August 2024.
F. Provide housing that will meet local housing needs in sustainable locations.	F1. Cwm Gelli Farm, Blackwood	Housing	- Help to meet local demand for housing	SQL3: Active Place MakingSQL5: Improve the delivery of new housing and diversify housing across all tenures	Private developers will bear most of the costs.
F. Provide housing that will meet local housing needs in sustainable locations.	F2. Pencoed Avenue, Cefn Fforest (HG1.27 Adopted LDP)	Housing	- Help to meet local demand for housing	SQL3: Active Place MakingSQL5: Improve the delivery of new housing and diversify housing across all tenures	Private developers will bear most of the costs.
F. Provide housing that will meet local housing needs in sustainable locations.	F3. Land at Ton-y-Felin Farm, Croespenmaen	Housing	- Help to meet local demand for housing	SQL3: Active Place MakingSQL5: Improve the delivery of new housing and diversify housing across all tenures	Private developers will bear most of the costs.
F. Provide housing that will meet local housing needs in sustainable locations.	F4. Former Oakdale Comprehensive School, Oakdale	Housing	- Help to meet local demand for housing	SQL3: Active Place MakingSQL5: Improve the delivery of new housing and diversify housing across all tenures	Private developers will bear most of the costs.
F. Provide housing that will meet local housing needs in sustainable locations.	F5. Tredegar Junction Hotel, Pontllanfraith	Housing	- Help to meet local demand for housing	SQL3: Active Place MakingSQL5: Improve the delivery of new housing and diversify housing across all tenures	Private developers will bear most of the costs.
F. Provide housing that will meet local housing needs in sustainable locations.	F6. Chartist Garden Village (former Pontllanfraith House), Pontllanfraith	Housing	- Help to meet local demand for housing	SQL3: Active Place MakingSQL5: Improve the delivery of new housing and diversify housing across all tenures	Private developers will bear most of the costs.
F. Provide housing that will meet local housing needs in sustainable locations.	F7. Land at Gellideg Heights, Maesycwmmer	Housing	- Help to meet local demand for housing	SQL3: Active Place MakingSQL5: Improve the delivery of new housing and diversify housing across all tenures	Private developers will bear most of the costs.
F. Provide housing that will meet local housing needs in sustainable locations.	F8. Ty Melin, Croespenmaen	Move residents to new homes, clear the site and build new houses/flats.	- Help to meet local demand for housing	SQL3: Active Place MakingSQL5: Improve the delivery of new housing and diversify housing across all tenures	£10,000,000 (£6,000,000 from WHQS (Welsh Housing Quality Standard) Environmental Programme; £4,000,000 grant).
F. Provide housing that will meet local housing needs in sustainable locations.	F9. Ynyswen sheltered housing, Pontllanfraith	Improve sheltered housing.	- Help to meet local demand for housing	SQL3: Active Place MakingSQL5: Improve the delivery of new housing and diversify housing across all tenures	£3,283,427 (mix of WHQS (Welsh Housing Quality Standard) Environmental Programme and other grant).

Appendix 1: well-being of future generations goals

The masterplan has been written with the seven well-being goals of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 in mind. The following assessment identifies the goal, or goals, relevant to each strategic objective.

Development in the Masterplan area should:

A. Protect and enhance the Masterplan area’s status as a sub-regional employment centre by:

• Protecting established employment sites;
• Redeveloping underused or vacant employment land;
• Diversifying uses in Blackwood town centre;
• Encouraging appropriate development in smaller commercial centres;
• Improving the visitor economy; and
• Strengthening links between schools, colleges and employers.

B. Establish Blackwood town centre as a sub-regional hub that is attractive, accessible and busy both during the day and at night.

C. Expand and diversity the visitor economy.

D. Improve transport links both within and beyond Greater Blackwood.

E. Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.

F. Provide housing that will meet local needs in sustainable locations.

National well-being goals:

Goal	Description of the Goal	How it will be achieved via the Masterplan
A prosperous Wales	An innovative, productive and low-carbon society which recognises the limits of the global environment and therefore uses resources efficiently and proportionately (including acting on climate change); and which develops a skilled and well-educated population in an economy which generates wealth and provides employment opportunities, allowing people to take advantage of the wealth generated through securing decent work.	Relevant Strategic Objectives: A, B, CA: Protecting employment sites and, so far as possible, helping to create new jobs.B: Supporting a mix of economically productive uses in town centres.C: Improving visitor attractions and encouraging visitors to see other parts of the Masterplan area.
A resilient Wales	A nation which maintains and enhances a biodiverse natural environment with healthy, functioning ecosystems that support social, economic and ecological resilience and the capacity to adapt to change (for example climate change).	n/a
A healthier Wales	A society in which people’s physical and mental well-being is maximised and in which choices and behaviours that benefit future health are understood.	Relevant Strategic Objectives: EE: Promote well-being by enhancing or creating sustainable community facilities.
A more equal Wales	A society that enables people to fulfil their potential no matter what their background or circumstances (including their socioeconomic background and circumstances).	Relevant Strategic Objectives: A, B, D, EA: Protecting jobs and helping to create new ones.B: Stimulating economic activity in the town centres, which are relatively easy to reach for most people.D: A safe and accessible built environment should allow everybody to participate in public life.E: Making sure that everybody can gain access to important services and facilities.
A Wales of cohesive communities	Attractive, viable, safe and well-connected communities.	Relevant Strategic Objectives: D, ED: A safe and accessible built environment should allow everybody to participate in public life.E: Making sure that everybody can gain access to important services and facilities.
A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language	A society that promotes and protects culture, heritage and the Welsh language, and which encourages people to participate in the arts, sports and recreation.	Relevant Strategic Objective: C, EC: A healthy visitor economy can increase demand for cultural enterprises such as festivals, theatres and music venues. E: Making sure that everybody can gain access to important services and facilities.
A globally responsible Wales	A nation which, when doing anything to improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales, takes account of whether doing such a thing may make a positive contribution to global well-being.	Relevant Strategic Objective: DD: Good active-travel and public-transport networks might help to reduce the use of polluting motor vehicles. The positive effects of this could spread beyond the county.

The masterplan has been prepared in line with the five ways of working:

Involvement – The Masterplan proposals are subject to consultation with the local community and have been developed through engagement with such stakeholders as ward members and community Councillors.

Collaboration – The development of the Masterplan has drawn on the expertise from key representatives across local authority departments, including Planning, Regeneration, Housing, Engineering and Countryside. The delivery of the projects identified within the Masterplan will involve collaboration between the public, private and third sectors, and the Council will work closely with these partners to deliver schemes in a collaborative manner.

Long term – The objectives identified, and the projects that will deliver these objectives, are part of a longer-term vision of enhancing the role of the Masterplan area. The Masterplan recognises the need for development to support economic growth but recognises that this development should be of a sustainable nature, both in terms of its purpose and its location.

Integration – The Masterplan projects will help to deliver several objectives of the Regeneration Strategy (as set out within Section 7 of this document), as well as proposals contained within the adopted Local Development Plan. They will also deliver against the Council’s own well-being objectives by identifying projects that will lead to job creation and training opportunities, promote more healthy and active lifestyles and reduce the carbon footprint through improved active-travel routes and facilities locally.

Prevention – The Masterplan seeks to improve local quality of life so that existing problems do not get any worse and so that any future problems will be manageable.

Appendix 2: assessment of site-specific proposals against the national well-being goals and the ccbc well-being objectives

This appendix assesses Masterplan projects against national well-being goals and Council well-being objectives (set out in the Corporate Plan 2023-2028). The national well-being objectives are set out in Appendix 1, and the corporate objectives are set out below. It should be noted that many of the projects identified are at an embryonic stage and therefore a detailed analysis of the relationship between proposals and the well-being goals and objectives cannot be undertaken at this stage.

Caerphilly CBC well-being objectives:

• Enabling our Children to Succeed in Education.
• Enabling our Residents to Thrive.
• Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
• Enabling our Economy to Grow.
• Enabling our Environment to be Greener.

Project	Description	Masterplan objective	National well-being goal	CCBC well-being goal
A1. Oakdale Plateaux, Oakdale	Employment site (place job-creating uses among other such uses and near existing housing and transport infrastructure and a proposed cycleway).	A, D	-A prosperous Wales-A more equal Wales-A Wales of cohesive communities	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.
A2. Protect and redevelop existing employment sites	Protect and redevelop sites if land becomes underused or vacant in order that the employment function in the Masterplan remains strong.	A	-A prosperous Wales-A more equal Wales	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.
B1. Blackwood Square, Blackwood	Commercial development.	A, B	-A prosperous Wales-A more equal Wales	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
B2. Diverse uses, renovated buildings, vacant units	Prominent buildings should be maintained and, where possible, improved. Mixed-use developments will help to make the town centre busy both during the day and at night. A flexible approach to managing the centre should encourage the use of vacant units for one-off events or short-term businesses.	A, B, F	-A prosperous Wales-A more equal Wales-A Wales of cohesive communities	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
B3. Blackwood Town Centre Environmental and accessibility enhancements	Increase accessibility and improve the built environment.	B, D	-A more equal Wales-A Wales of cohesive communities	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
B4: Evening-and-night-time economy	Expand the evening-and-night-time economy and advertise the town centre as a ‘package’ of after-dark attractions.	A, B, C	-A prosperous Wales-A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.
B5: Town-centre events	Support public events such as festivals and exhibitions would appeal to residents and visitors alike.	A, B, C	-A prosperous Wales-A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
C1. Blackwood Miners’ Welfare Institute (‘BMI’)	Continue to promote it as a venue for events and entertainment. It has the potential to create demand for accommodation and hospitality in or near Blackwood.	A, B, C	-A prosperous Wales-A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
D1. South Wales Metro and Metro Plus improvements	Additional services. More frequent services. Possibility of a new station at Crumlin. Mid-valleys rapid transit route along the A472 strategic east-west link.	D	-A prosperous Wales-A resilient Wales-A Wales of cohesive communities	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
D2. Improvements to Llanhilleth and Newbridge railway stations	Hourly service between Ebbw Vale Town and Newport. Improved accessibility and facilities. New and extended platforms.	D	-A prosperous Wales-A resilient Wales-A Wales of cohesive communities	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
D3. Active travel	Improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes in the Masterplan area.	D	-A more equal Wales-A Wales of cohesive communities-A healthier Wales	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.-Enabling our Residents to Thrive.
D4. Bus services	Maintain, if not increase, frequency and range of bus services to give more people an alternative to driving (or being driven).	D	-A more equal Wales-A Wales of cohesive communities	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
D5. Electric vehicles	Develop a network of vehicle charging points. Promote use of electric bicycles.	D	-A Wales of cohesive communities	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Environment to be Greener.
E1. Blackwood Little Theatre, Woodbine Road	Promote venue to stimulate night-time economy in Blackwood town centre.	E	-A Wales of cohesive communities-A prosperous Wales-A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language	-Enabling our Economy to Grow.-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
E2. Cefn Fforest Miners’ Institute, Cefn Fforest	Promote as a community facility.	E	-A Wales of cohesive communities-A prosperous Wales-A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language	-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.-Enabling our Residents to Thrive.
E3. Navigation Colliery, Crumlin	Promote as both a community facility and a place of business.	E	-A Wales of cohesive communities-A prosperous Wales-A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language-A healthier Wales	-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.-Enabling our Residents to Thrive.-Enabling our Economy to Grow.
E4. Trinant shopping centre, Trinant	Improve local shopping area (new landscaping, benches, lights).	E	-A Wales of cohesive communities-A healthier Wales-A prosperous Wales	-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.-Enabling our Economy to Grow.
E5. Skatepark, Blackwood Showfield Playground	Creation of a new community facility	E	-A Wales of cohesive communities-A healthier Wales	-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
E6. Maesycwmmer Park, Maesycwmmer	Improve a community facility (upgraded playground, multi-play unit, outdoor gym, concrete skatepark).	E	-A Wales of cohesive communities-A healthier Wales	-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
E7. Blackwood Comprehensive School, Blackwood	Improve a community facility.	E	-A Wales of cohesive communities-A prosperous Wales-A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language-A healthier Wales	-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.
E8. Pengam Library, Pengam	Additional childcare services	E	-A Wales of cohesive communities	-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.-Enabling our Children to Succeed in Education.
E9. Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen, Oakdale	Old demountable classrooms to be removed. New four-classroom block to create 60 school places. Two Welsh-medium childcare providers to move to another part of the school.	E	-A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language	-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.-Enabling our Children to Succeed in Education.
E10. Former Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School, Pontllanfraith	Centre for Vulnerable Learners, four-court sports hall, multi-use 3G pitch, respite centre.	E	-A Wales of cohesive communities-A healthier Wales	-Enabling our Communities to Thrive.-Enabling our Children to Succeed in Education.-Enabling our Residents to Thrive.
F1 – 9 (all housing or housing-led projects)	New housing.	F	-A more equal Wales-A Wales of cohesive communities	-Enabling our Residents to Thrive.

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