The Rhondda & Ogmore Plan
Regeneration and Opportunity 2026 – 2035
Foreword
By Chris Bryant, Member of Parliament for Rhondda and Ogmore
Our community has always given more than it has ever asked for. These valleys raised generations of workers who built modern Britain. We stood together through coal, conflict, and countless challenges. Even now, in difficult times, people continue to give to one another and to the country.
But we haven’t always seen the just rewards of this hard work. Jobs have gone, services have disappeared, and technology common elsewhere has barely taken root here. People are tired of promises of “one day”.
Since 2001, I’ve fought for our communities. Some days it’s felt like pushing a stone uphill, but there have been big wins: new and rebuilt schools, a hospital in Llwynypia, GP surgeries in Porth and Treorchy, the electrified railway, the Relief Road, & major flood protection investment.
Yet Tory austerity tore into our towns. High streets faded, services were cut, and the vulnerable were blamed. By contrast, the last Labour government lifted millions from poverty, introduced the minimum wage, cut crime and proved politics can change lives.
Now Labour is back in government. There are no overnight fixes, but there is an opportunity – and we must make it count.
That’s why I am putting together a comprehensive ten-year action plan for Rhondda and Ogmore: grounded, practical and hopeful. This is not the final document. It is the start of a conversation. I am asking all residents to take a look, share your views through the survey and help shape the final plan.
Real change is hard and takes time. But frustration cannot become defeatism. I haven’t stopped believing in Rhondda and Ogmore.
This plan won’t solve everything. But the direction is clear.
Let’s start now, and let’s do it together.
Introduction
This document is for anyone who calls Rhondda and Ogmore home.
Regeneration and Opportunity 2025–2035 is a plan of action to unlock the talent and potential of our area. It sets out where things stand today and what we can do over the next decade to change them.
For too long, despite the hard work of individuals, communities, and organisations, progress here hasn’t kept pace with other parts of the country.
Why do some problems never shift? How can we build a happier, healthier, and wealthier valley? Where’s the plan to make it happen?
This document sets out the most fundamental issues affecting daily life – jobs and wages, housing, transport, schools, health services, and the strength of our community. It lays out the facts, highlights barriers, and suggests potential goals for change. Some of it is tough reading, but it reflects what many already know and experience every day.
Download and read the full draft document here
Over the coming months, I want to hear from as many people as possible about what matters most, what is missing, and what should be done differently.
The aim is simple: to show where we are, set out a plan, and make sure progress is felt by you and your family. To get involved, please:
READ this document to understand the challenges and opportunities ahead.
SHARE your views by completing the short survey at the back.
STAY INVOLVED as the plan develops. There will be more chances to contribute, debate, and refine it together.
Your views will help shape the final Regeneration and Opportunity 2025–2035 plan, bringing together the ideas, experiences, and priorities of people across Rhondda and Ogmore to transform our valleys for a brighter, fairer future.
EMPLOYMENT & THE ECONOMY
HOUSING
HEALTH & WELLBEING
TRANSPORT & CONNECTIVITY
CRIME & SAFETY
CHILD POVERTY
EDUCATION & OPPORTUNITY
COMMUNITY & SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Your Valleys, Your Voice
This plan is just the start. The next step is making it stronger, together. Your experiences, ideas, and priorities will help shape the final Regeneration and Opportunity 2025–2035 plan so it reflects what really matters to the people of Rhondda and Ogmore.
🔴 What matters most to you and your family?
🔴 What’s missing from this plan?
🔴 What actions would make the biggest difference?
🔴 Do you have ideas to help improve things?
🔴 What should we focus on first?
Every answer will help us create a plan that is ambitious, practical, and rooted in the everyday lives of our communities.
Have Your Say Today
Follow the link or scan the code to complete the short survey. It only takes a few minutes – but your views will shape the future of Rhondda and Ogmore.
Town Hall Meetings
We’ll also be holding local town hall meetings to discuss the plan in more detail. If you’d like to stay involved, please share your details through the survey so we can keep you updated.