Earlier this year, Urban Foundry’s PopUp Wales project partnered with Caerphilly Borough County Council to launch a new space on High Street in Bargoed.
This followed the success of similar projects in Swansea and Bridgend, which have helped to revitalise town centres and provide new opportunities for local start-ups and entrepreneurs.
Success in Bargoed
The Bargoed space has seen great success, offering events, trade testing opportunities, training, and co-working spaces to local start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.
The impact has been far-reaching. We spoke to Rhian Parry from Mennow’s, who currently has a pop-up market stall in the High Street space, selling baby and children’s gifts and clothing. She shared her thoughts:
“The space is affordable and central, which allows me to meet new customers and raise awareness of my business. It’s a fantastic opportunity to grow and shape my business, as I can learn what works best. It’s also a great way to bring independent businesses and traders together, adding energy to Bargoed. Haley Evans from Spirit and Soul is next to me, and I know she has really appreciated the support provided by Caerphilly County Council and PopUp Wales.”
We also spoke to Donna Gilbert, a mindset coach who runs a small business Turned On Its Head in Blackwood. Donna attended a series of marketing workshops held in the space earlier this year and shared her experience:
‘I’m grateful for the forward-thinking approach of Caerphilly County Council and PopUp Wales in creating this space in Bargoed. The workshops I attended were pivotal, and I’ve already implemented some of the strategies shared there. Supporting local businesses is so important – it benefits us as business owners and strengthens the wider Caerphilly economy.”
The space has been so successful that the landlord of 28 High Street has agreed to extend the lease until 2025.
Expansion across Caerphilly Borough
The project has is now expanding into more of the Borough’s empty high street shops.
Several empty buildings across Caerphilly County Borough are being converted into pop-up (also called meanwhile spaces), where businesses can rent flexible spaces to work and hold meetings.
These new spaces will provide a low-risk environment for businesses to trial their services, avoiding high hire fees and legal complexities. The multipurpose areas can be used for desk space, pop-up events, and training, supporting both new and small businesses.
Benefits for local businesses and high streets
PopUp Wales has already demonstrated long-term benefits in other towns, enhancing public perception, supporting start-ups, and revitalising empty shops. The project has even created jobs and led to long-term rentals in other areas.
It is hoped that the new spaces will help businesses find affordable working and meeting areas, whilst also addressing high street regeneration challenges that councils are facing nationwide.
New locations in Caerphilly
The first of the new pop-up spaces is set to open soon in the former Barclays premises on Cardiff Road, Caerphilly. This new location will offer further opportunities for businesses to set up and grow.
Support for the project
Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and deputy leader, said:
“This project focuses on proactive and immediate intervention rather than waiting for change to happen. Before we stepped in at 28 High Street, it was an empty, run-down space with broken windows. Now, it has been transformed into a stylish, multipurpose space where we can support organisations, businesses, and entrepreneurs. Offering low-cost opportunities to small businesses has already demonstrated a positive impact in our community.
Working with PopUp Wales, we started in Bargoed and are now expanding with another space in the former Barclays Bank in Caerphilly. There are even more opportunities in the pipeline. The local authority is committed to tackling empty buildings and repurposing them with meanwhile uses for businesses, providing affordable options that benefit the local economy.”
Jo-Hillier Raikes, town centre manager for Caerphilly County Borough Council, said:
“The project is already injecting energy into the town, not just by increasing footfall, but by offering an accessible and affordable way for new businesses to grow and contribute to the local economy. The flexible spaces provide start-ups and entrepreneurs with the opportunity to test their ideas without the usual high financial burden of establishing a physical presence.
The High Street space in Bargoed has been completely transformed into a fantastic, stylish, and multipurpose venue. Everyone who uses it remarks on how impressive it is – and it’s even heated! As more businesses and landlords join forces with PopUp Wales, we anticipate this initiative will leave a lasting positive impact on the local economy and the wider borough.”
Tara Tarapetian, Director at Urban Foundry, said, “It’s proven that projects like this play a role in the strategic regeneration of our towns. By transforming empty, neglected spaces into high-quality environments, we are creating opportunities for local businesses and reshaping perceptions of what our high streets can offer.
The quality of the space is important too – a well-designed, stylish, and functional environment inspires confidence. This project demonstrates the power of bold, immediate action in tackling empty properties while creating long-term economic and social benefits for the community.
It’s not just about filling empty shops – it’s about providing the right conditions for growth, creativity, and sustainability. The impact on Bargoed has been remarkable, and with the expansion across Caerphilly Borough, we are excited to see this strategy creating lasting change.”
The scheme will deliver five meanwhile spaces in Caerphilly County Borough by March 2025.
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
