Cardiff Capital Region

 

As well as those from Welsh Government, there are several South East region-specific policies and initiatives covering the 10 Cardiff Capital Region local authority areas: Cardiff, The Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Newport.

City Deal

Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) City Deal is one of the most significant economic programmes seen in South-East Wales for many years and the key driver for all developments in the South East. It will see £1.2 billion invested in the region over the next 20 years, aiming to deliver as many as 25,000 new jobs, and leveraging a further £4 billion of private sector investment.

The City Deal will help to boost economic growth by tackling issues that affect the whole of the region – improving transport links, increasing skills, helping people into work, and giving businesses the support they need to grow.

If you have a prospective project that could benefit the regional economy, information on how to apply to the CCR City Deal Wider Investment Fund can be found here.

You can download a copy of the Cardiff Capital Regional City Deal document here.

CCR Governance

The CCR Joint Cabinet (political membership drawn from all ten local authorities) is establishing regional bodies to ensure the delivery of all aspects of the City Deal programme.  Joint Cabinet papers are available publicly on all regional local authority websites. If you’d like further information about what is discussed at the Regional Cabinet, copies of the papers for their meetings can be accessed here.

The CCR Programme Board is the body that exists to support the implementation of the Joint Cabinet decisions.  The board consists of:

  • City Deal Programme Director
  • City Deal Programme Manager
  • Strategic Directors, or equivalent, from each constituent authority
  • Specialist Officers,
  • Legal and Financial representatives.

Programmes

The CCR has begun the establishment of a range of programmes to increase connectivity, improve physical and digital infrastructure, as well as regional business governance.

Key CCR City Deal programmes developments are:

  • The delivery of the South East Wales Metro.
  • The creation of a non-statutory Regional Transport Authority to co-ordinate transport planning and investment.
  • The development of capabilities in Compound Semiconductor Applications, creating a South-East Wales sector cluster.
  • The CCR Skills Partnership to ensure skills and employment provision are responsive to the needs of local businesses and communities.
  • A Regional Economic Growth Partnership and a Business Council to ensure that there is a voice for business to work with local authority leaders.
  • The Welsh Government and the Cardiff Capital Region have committed to a new partnership approach to housing development and regeneration. This will ensure the delivery of sustainable communities, through the use and re-use of property and sites.
  • Both the UK and Welsh Government are contributing £500 million to the CCR Investment Fund respectively. The ten local authorities in the CCR will contribute a minimum of £120 million over the duration of the Fund.

 

 

 

Metro

The Welsh Government’s plans for a Cardiff Metro have wide ranging implications for other sectors beyond transport. We have provided an introduction to the Metro here.

Valleys Taskforce

Whilst not technically a CCR-only initiative (as it also covers some areas that fall within the Swansea Bay region), the Valleys Taskforce is a high profile programme impacting on European Projects in the South East. You can read more about the Taskforce here.

ESI Panel

Potential and existing European funded operations that impact on the region have to demonstrate to WEFO that they meet a CCR strategic need and fit with other existing activities. The SE RET has responsibility for ensuring regional proofing of operations and you can read more about the ESI Panel here.