Bargoed, located in the Rhymney Valley, is the most northern of the six main retail centres. It is the third largest town behind the sub-regional centres of Caerphilly and Blackwood and is the largest of the four district centres. The catchment area for the town includes Rhymney, Fochriw, Pontlottyn, Abertysswg, Deri, New Tredegar, Aberbargoed and Gilfach and has a combined population of over 26,000.
This former mining town has a number of multiple retailers including: Original Factory Shop, Poundworld, Peacocks, Dorothy Perkins, Burtons, Shoe Zone and Subway, as well as a good range of small independent businesses.
In recent years the Council has undertaken an ambitious regeneration project in Bargoed called the ‘BIG Idea’, which comprised of several different elements. Initially, a £25 million road – Angel Way – was built in 2009, linking the north and south of the Rhymney Valley to significantly increase accessibility to the town. The road also incorporates key cross valley links. The conversion of Hanbury Baptist Church into a public building has been an award-winning project and is the result of a partnership between the Council and United Welsh Housing Association. It incorporates a library, local history resource unit, Customer Services facility and worship space. Other completed parts of the regeneration scheme include a new passenger interchange between buses and trains at the north of the town centre, park & ride facility and a new bus station.
A comprehensive public realm scheme has transformed the town using the concept of ‘shared space’ to create a contemporary shopping environment, which allows full vehicle and delivery access whilst balancing the need for pedestrians to have more freedom. In order to expand the shopping offer in a new retail plateau was constructed. The plateau is now home to a Morrisons store and the existing high street is linked to the supermarket by Lowry Plaza, which creates seven new retail units set on a new public square. The scheme is anchored by Poundworld and tenants include Greggs and Subway.
