FAMILIES are set to benefit from a £4.6 million scheme "making inroads to helping build new communities" in Rhyl.

This latest batch of funding from Welsh Government for the town will be put towards renovating and redeveloping properties in West Rhyl to create 32 affordable homes on Crescent Road, Water Street and Aquarium Street.

In the first phase of plans, receiving more than £900,000 revealed by deputy housing and local government minister Hannah Blythyn, will involve repurposing 12 properties as part of the Welsh Government’s Targeted Regeneration Investment programme being delivered by Denbighshire County Council with Pennaf Housing Group.

Cllr Butterfield, ward councillor for Rhyl West, said: "This is a welcome sum towards renovating properties under the council's ownership in West Rhyl, and I'm really looking forward to making inroads to helping build new communities while bringing these houses back into the fold."

The first phase of the project will involve the renovation of a property on Crescent Road into three affordable housing apartments for the over 55s, two properties on Water Street turned into a further six and eight properties on Aquarium Street will be renovated to create homes available under the Low Cost Home Ownership scheme.

A further site on John Street will be redeveloped to create 15 accessible apartments suitable for older residents.

Cllr Butterfield added:"What this latest chunk of funding and the plans show are that we're moving away from single occupancy flats and putting families first by fulfilling the desperately need for affordable housing in the town."

The Rhyl scheme is part of the Welsh Government’s regeneration strategy, supported by more than by other organisations and businesses, which will invest £800m across Wales between 2014 and 2023 and follows £2.5 million earlier this month helping the council purchase the Queen's market complex .

Ms Blythyn said: “This investment will create 32 affordable homes, revitalising old properties and will help to contribute to wider regeneration work going on in the area. They will also contribute towards our commitment to build 20,000 affordable homes during this Assembly term.

“At the beginning of January we announced £2.5m of regeneration investment to support Denbighshire Council to buy and redevelop the Queens Buildings in Rhyl, which together with this investment is part of a much wider regeneration programme. I look forward to seeing this work develop, including these fantastic new homes in the area.”

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire’s lead member for housing, regulation and the environment, said: “This funding will enable the Council and Pennaf to undertake further improvements to housing in the West Rhyl Regeneration Area, and build on the success of the earlier property acquisition programme undertaken by the Council and the investment in new homes which was recently recognised as the best regeneration project of its size in the UK-wide Inside Housing awards.