Gainsborough’s neighbour Bassetlaw is to be given a £20 million to regenerate towns, tackle anti-social behaviour and refurbish cherished community centres, as part of a major regeneration project announced by Government.
The money will also be used to improve the area’s educational and health services through new and improved facilities for the community to use.
The funding is part of the wider £400 million Levelling Up Partnerships in England, with the cash going to the 20 areas most in need for levelling up.
The package of investment includes:
- £14m to redevelop old print rooms in Worksop, a vacant retail unit in Priory Shopping centre and a derelict site in Harworth & Bircotes. This will help create a new education centre, NHS health and wellbeing centre, and community hub.
- £3m for streetscaping in Retford, Worksop and Tuxford town centres, helping to improve access and tackle anti-social behaviour.
- £1.5m for Worksop to renovate derelict land and create a community farm shop.
- £1m to redevelop Retford Town Hall into a new community space, including a banking hub and £150,000 for investment in Manton Children’s centre for use as a Family Hub whose services will support local families.
- £120k of funding to the Council to support them in their local skills scoping work to ensure people can make use of the economic opportunities that STEP will bring and strategic visioning for the arrival of STEP.
- £100k of funding for studies to help improve the town centres of Bassetlaw, which will further prepare the town and surrounding areas for the arrival of STEP.
This builds on the significant investment already made in Bassetlaw, including nearly £18 million from the Levelling Up Fund, over £3 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as well as £20 million from the Long-Term plan for Towns.
Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said: ”This new Levelling Up Partnership is massive news for Bassetlaw and will make a real difference the region.
“We are working closely with the Leader of Nottinghamshire Council, and other local leaders, as part of our plans to Level Up the East Midlands, including by creating the East Midlands Combined Authority which will give local communities more power to shape decisions which directly affect them.”
James Naish, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council said: “This £20million investment through the Levelling Up Partnership will help to propel change and generate more life chances and opportunities for residents of all ages across Bassetlaw.
“The range of projects – put forward by the Council to purposefully cover the whole of the District – includes supporting improvements to the streets where people live and shop; creating new exercise and training opportunities; investing in community spaces such as banking and family hubs; and promoting the employment, business and educational opportunities created by the planned prototype fusion energy plant at West Burton.
“Among the eight confirmed projects, there are schemes in Tuxford and Harworth & Bircotes as well as Retford and Worksop, all of which contributes to delivering the Council’s vision for Bassetlaw as a whole to become an even better place to live, work and do business.”
