PROJECTS in Blaenau Gwent which will benefit from a Welsh Government regeneration scheme have been agreed by the council.

Blaenau Gwent will receive a share of £44million earmarked for south-east Wales from a national regeneration budget of up to £100million.

At a meeting of the council's executive on Wednesday, councillors agreed on the projects for which funding will be sought.

These include the Brynmawr and Nantyglo 'masterplan' - a regeneration project involving proposed housing and leisure opportunities at the former Nantyglo School site.

The project will complement current retail and housing opportunities being considered for Brynmawr town centre.

Future options for the former Llanhilleth pit head baths building that could include housing or leisure opportunities will also be considered in the scheme.

And plans to redevelop Eugene Cross Park in Ebbw Vale, a rugby, bowls and cricket ground, into a state-of-the-art leisure and community hub could also benefit.

These projects will be developed alongside regeneration in Ebbw Vale town centre, which is seen as the strategic hub of the scheme.

A report on the project says: "In recognition of the levels of deprivation that extend across the borough, there is a drive to ensure a comprehensive approach to regeneration is adopted.

"In addition to new regeneration initiatives, the authority will take a strategic approach, ensuring that previous regeneration schemes are completed beyond Ebbw Vale in order to maximise the impact and associated outputs.

"This will enable the surrounding areas to underpin and complement the strategic hub, Ebbw Vale."

Leader of the council, Cllr Nigel Daniels, said the authority would look at "every corner of the borough" to take advantage of the scheme.

Cllr Garth Collier questioned whether there were other projects which could benefit from the scheme ahead of the development of the sports hub.

"I am not anti sport in any way but how the sports hub has got to be a priority when the borough is in the state it is in at the moment is beyond me," he said.

But Cllr Dai Davies said the criteria for the scheme is for a range of projects to help the region as a whole.

He added: "The key to this report is that the scheme has got to fit in with regional developments.

"It's not about standing still, it's about working in partnership with other projects as they evolve."