A one-week Town Boost Programme in Llantwit Major has been hailed a success, delivering a range of improvements to the town centre, whilst bringing together residents, businesses and local partners.
Llantwit Major was chosen as one of only three towns in Wales selected to pilot this internationally recognised approach, testing new ways of supporting town centre revitalisation.
The programme builds on the Llantwit Major Placemaking Plan, helping to turn ideas developed with the community into action on the ground.
Delivered in partnership with Creative Communities International, Vale of Glamorgan Council and Llantwit Major Town Council, the programme included business training, workshops and a series of hands-on activities focused on making the town centre more welcoming, vibrant and resilient.
The week culminated in a One-Day Makeover, where partners worked together to deliver a range of improvements in a short space of time, including:
A new mural on the public toilets, helping to brighten the space and celebrate local identity
Enhancements to the area around the Bakehouse and former Cwtch café, including a hand-painted town map, new seating and planter boxes to create a more welcoming and sociable space
The programme has also helped strengthen relationships between partners and build confidence in delivering change collaboratively.
Welcoming the transformation, Laura Sneddon - Owner of the Bakehouse Café - said: “It’s been lovely to see how the Town Boost initiative has transformed the area outside Bakehouse and the Cwtch into a far more welcoming and usable space for the community. The space felt a little tired and overlooked, and now it acts as a natural link between the old and newer parts of town, bringing everything together in a much more cohesive way.
“The improvements have really breathed new life into the space, making it somewhere people can stop, gather, and enjoy rather than simply pass through. Most of all, it’s been lovely to see the community come together to shape and support a space that everyone can share and take pride in!”
Local resident and artist Andy Holden, who was among the volunteers helping to paint the new mural on the public toilets in Llantwit Major, said: "While we were painting, countless people passing said how much they liked it and what an improvement it was, which has got to be a good thing, hasn't it!
“It's nice to do something that makes people smile and brightens their day."
Phil Chappell, Operational Manager for Regeneration at the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: “The One Week Town Boost has been a fantastic example of what can be achieved when the community and businesses come together with a shared vision. Support from Llantwit Major Town Council has also been fantastic.
“In a short space of time, we’ve seen meaningful improvements that create a welcoming feel and sense of place in Llantwit Major’s town centre. This pilot will help inform how we support towns across the Vale to thrive in a more collaborative and sustainable way.”
The programme of works during the one-week town boost has also supported the delivery of the Llantwit Major Placemaking Plan - particularly its focus on celebrating the town and improving connections with the coast. This pilot has demonstrated how ideas in can be turned into action quickly, while building momentum for longer-term change.
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