A VALLEYS town looks set to get a £1.6 million regeneration boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The money, which has been given first-stage approval, could see 17 at-risk residential and commercial buildings restored in Tredegar.

This includes the Tredegar Arms Hotel, the former NCB club, and the Tredegar Medical Society building, established in 1890 – which Aneurin Bevan used as a model for the NHS.

The announcement comes more than a year after Tredegar Town Council declared the town’s heritage “in crisis” because many of its most important buildings were at risk.

The county council wants to market the area as a heritage health town, and has already received £50,000 funding to start progressing plans to bring the buildings back into use and attract investors.

If awarded, part of the £1.6 million could also fund a full-time project officer and administrative assistant to manage the programme.

It could also offer traditional skills training with the British Gas green skills training centre, Centrica, to get unemployed young people back into work.

Blaenau Gwent Assembly Member Alun Davies said heritage was a modern catalyst for regeneration, which was vital in stimulating public and private investment.

Richard Crook, director of environment and regeneration at Blaenau Gwent Council, said: “This exciting r e g e n e r a t i o n scheme is designed to build a more vibrant future for Tredegar’s communities.

“It will attract inward investment and provide muchneeded stimulus for economic growth that ultimately benefits local people.”

While the money has been set aside by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the scheme, it does not guarantee the funding.

It is an indication of positive support and the council must now submit more detailed plans before a final decision is expected later this year.