Ambitious plans to bring new attractions to Cwmcarn Forest, including an adventure hub and new cycling routes, could be given a funding boost.
Caerphilly County Borough Council has earmarked £75,000 from its regeneration schemes budget towards developing a business plan for the proposals.
Around £1 million will be invested in the council-owned tourist site up to 2020 to develop the plans.
A new adventure hub, additional cycling and walking routes and lakeside improvements are planned.
Proposals also include improving the attraction’s accommodation, with new chalet style cabins being introduced.
The council’s cabinet will meet this week to decide on the next projects to receive money from its Regeneration Project Board.
A council report says the council could take over management of the scenic drive as part of the plans.
Discussions with Natural Resources Wales are said to have been ‘positive’, which could invest around £2m on opening the drive up to vehicles and dealing with fire damage on the hillside.
The report says: “In order to continue the momentum and turn Cwmcarn into the strongest outdoor visitor attraction in South East Wales, it is proposed that a business plan is now developed which identifies the primary visitor focused objectives for Cwmcarn venue and investigates new attractions and possible private investment opportunities that could add value to the visitor offer.”
A scheme to expand Ystrad Mynach’s park and ride with an additional 113 car parking spaces at the railway station could also be endorsed by the project board.
The plans aim to address a shortage of spaces which often results in overflow parking on nearby streets.
It is hoped the project will be complete by 2023, with council regeneration funding not required at this stage.
The third project earmarked for endorsement is a scheme to regenerate Pentrebane Street in Caerphilly, which runs off the main street in the town centre.
LINC housing association is leading the £6.8m project, which it will fund along with a Welsh Government grant and regeneration funding.
However council funding is not required at this stage.
The projects are expected to be endorsed, and £75,000 allocated for developing the Cwmcarn Forest plans, at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.