Rhonda Cynon Taf Council has agreed to move forward with plans to seek National Lottery backing for a significant redevelopment of Rhondda Heritage Park, while committing council money to the next planning stage.
Funding bid to be re-submitted
On Monday 13 July the council’s cabinet approved the submission of a new expression of interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) for the heritage park. Members also agreed to set aside roughly £210,000 to carry the site through the stage one development phase, up to March 2028, subject to a positive response to the expression of interest.
Any move to the stage two delivery phase — which could include major restoration works — would require a further cabinet decision.
How this fits with earlier plans
Cabinet papers make clear this is not the first time the council has pursued Lottery backing for the site. In September 2016 councillors approved a two-stage programme intended to secure the park’s long-term future. The original phase one work involved a projected investment of around £500,000 covering digital installations, building repairs and exploring partnerships for a café and play area.
The report says the stage one recommendations were completed and that additional improvements have been funded by the council and external grants since then. A 2025–30 heritage strategy was developed that sets out aims to secure, advocate, value and engage around local heritage — aims the redevelopment would support.
“that fundamentally RCT is a destination with a sense of drama and place where the narrative of our pioneering past is reinvented to provide a first-class contemporary visitor experience”
National Lottery support and delays
The council had previously submitted an expression of interest that was accepted by the NLHF in 2022, but resource constraints within regeneration and heritage services delayed development of a full proposal. The earlier expression of interest lapsed in May 2024, so a fresh submission is now planned. The NLHF has been described in the report as supportive and still encouraging the council to proceed; the fund currently offers grants of up to £10 million.
- Cabinet agreed to submit a new expression of interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
- The council plans to commit approximately £210,000 for the stage one development phase up to March 2028.
- Progression to a stage two delivery phase would require a further cabinet decision.
What it means locally
If the council progresses to a full Lottery application and secures grant funding, the project could bring significant investment to the park and the local tourist offer. The council’s own tourism strategy describes the county as a place with a strong sense of character, where heritage can be reshaped into a contemporary visitor attraction.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Two-stage programme approved; phase one estimated at £500,000 |
| 2022 | Expression of interest accepted by NLHF |
| May 2024 | Previous expression of interest expired |
| July 2026 | Council to re-submit expression of interest and commit ~£210,000 for stage one |
The council report indicates that should the NLHF respond positively to the new expression of interest, officers will use the committed development funding to prepare a full stage one proposal. Any decision to move into large-scale delivery would come back to the cabinet for approval.
Local people with an interest in the park’s future will be watching the NLHF response and the council’s next steps closely, as successful Lottery funding could change the look and facilities of a site long connected with the valley’s industrial past.
