Beloved North Wales Seaside Spot Rhyl Set for £20m Revival as New Board Takes Charge

A refreshed and dynamic Board has been unveiled to lead the next chapter of Rhyl’s ambitious £20million, 10-year regeneration journey – building on a year of intensive work and unprecedented public engagement.

Developed in partnership with the UK Government through the Pride in Place programme, the Our Rhyl / Ein Rhyl plan has been conditionally approved – a key milestone that moves the much-loved North Wales day-trip destination into its next phase of engagement and community input.

This step ensures the refreshed Board can build on strong foundations already in place while helping to shape and define the plan’s future delivery.

New members bring a wide mix of knowledge and experience, including Justin Bell (Community/Tourism), Julie Pierce (Community/Third Sector), Leonie Wainwright (Community/Regeneration), Linzi Jones (Community/DVSC), Emma Watling (Community/Health), and Jonathan Pico (Community/Faith), alongside Simon Keeting as the Community Police representative.

The revamped Board signals a renewed drive to maintain momentum and create more opportunities for local people to get involved. Alongside it, themed Action Groups will be launched, giving residents, businesses and organisations hands-on ways to turn ideas into action.

Craig Sparrow, Chair of the Our Rhyl Board, said: “The response from the community over the past year has been incredible. We’ve heard from thousands of people in so many different ways, and that’s what gives this plan its strength.

“As we move forward, the refreshed Board brings new energy and fresh perspectives, but our focus stays the same – listening and working alongside the people of Rhyl. We want even more people to get involved and shape what comes next.”

Over the past 12 months, engagement has taken place across the town – from the promenade and high street to Queen’s Market, the library and the Women’s Centre – through workshops, surveys, pop-ups, events and direct conversations.

The summer survey alone drew more than 550 responses, with nearly four in five participants living or working in Rhyl. Business workshops ensured local employers had their say, while engagement with young people and the third sector has been extensive.

Online, the conversation has grown just as rapidly. Our Rhyl / Ein Rhyl now has a digital community of more than 2,000 followers.

On TikTok, content has generated over 220,000 views, 5,000 likes, more than 400 comments and nearly 1,000 shares, alongside strong engagement across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook groups and local media.

Young people have played a key role in shaping the vision. Denbighshire Youth Service has reached more than 300 young people through 18 street-based sessions, five focus groups and a 10-episode podcast series.

At the same time, Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council gathered insight from more than 40 organisations, highlighting priorities such as tackling poverty, reducing isolation, improving mental health and creating more opportunities for young people.

These findings echo wider research, including a 2025 resident survey and Rhyl’s placemaking plan, which captured more than 2,500 local voices and reinforced priorities such as high street renewal and more activities for children and young people.

Craig added: “We’ve reached an important point, but this is really about what happens next. The level of engagement so far shows just how much people care about Rhyl’s future.

“With the new Board and Action Groups to follow, we’re opening things up even further. In alignment with UK Government, we want to build on this momentum and make sure local people are shaping the plan every step of the way.”

As the programme moves forward, the focus remains clear: Rhyl’s regeneration is being shaped by its people, with even more opportunities ahead to get involved and make a difference.