Caerau and Ely have been awarded up to £20 million of long‑term investment through the UK Government’s new Pride in Place programme.
The scheme aims to support communities most in need across the UK by investing in local priorities, improving neighbourhoods, and giving residents greater influence over decisions that affect their area.
Now that the bid has been successful, both wards will receive funding over the next 10 years to:
- Strengthen community life and support local groups
- Improve the street scene, local facilities, and public spaces
- Boost skills, jobs, and economic opportunities
- Create safer, healthier neighbourhoods
- Help residents shape a long‑term vision for their community
Recent data from the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) 2025 shows that Caerau and Ely have the highest levels of deprivation in Cardiff.
The new funding will build on the Ely and Caerau Community Plan, approved in 2024, which was created with input from more than 1,200 local residents and partners, including South Wales Police and the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. The new programme would help develop this work further and deliver long‑term improvements.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, welcomed the news, saying:
“Local residents in Caerau and Ely have told us clearly what matters to them through the recent community plan. Now that the funding has been approved for Ely and Caerau by the UK Government, it will give us a real opportunity to support local priorities, improve neighbourhoods, and help residents shape a positive future for their area.
“Given the high levels of need shown through the latest WIMD data, these communities deserve this funding so that a long‑term programme of investment can be delivered in these areas.”
As the UK Government has now approved the proposal, the following steps will be taken to identify and manage the distribution of the funding:
- A Neighbourhood Board will be created, bringing together local residents, community leaders, businesses, councillors, and partners.
- An independent chair will be appointed to lead the Board.
- The Board will develop a 10‑year Regeneration Plan for Caerau and Ely, setting out how investment will be used.
- Governance and community engagement work would begin in 2026, with full regeneration plans expected to be approved by spring 2027.
Becky Matyus, Partnerships Co-ordinator from Action in Caerau and Ely said:
“This is an exciting opportunity for the people of Ely and Caerau to have a real voice in the creation of a 10-year Regeneration Plan, ensuring this investment meets local needs and brings long lasting change in our community.”
Most of the funding will be allocated to capital projects, such as buildings, infrastructure, and major improvements, supported by revenue funding to help plan and deliver the programme.
As the UK Government has now accepted the proposal for both Ely and Caerau to receive the funding, work will now begin to understand the next steps for the programme in partnership with UK Government.
