Numerous projects across Worcestershire have been given the green light after £12m of Government funding has been announced today (Tuesday 4th August).
As part of the Government’s Getting Building Fund, Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership confirmed in July that it had been awarded £12m to fund capital projects and programmes, which will help support jobs, skills and infrastructure in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today, the list of projects within Worcestershire which will benefit from this new funding, has been announced.
The funding will support a variety of projects such as improving digital connectivity and innovation in the county, through a Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) scheme in Worcester city and the expansion of the Science and Technology Park in Malvern. It will also support a green recovery and enhance the county’s resilience to climate change through schemes including Tenbury Wells Flood alleviation and a new housing development in Bromsgrove that will perform to a higher environmental standard and deliver homes which are cheaper to run than a standard home. The programme will also support future skills in the county through investment in a new construction and automotive skills centre in Kidderminster and redevelopment of the Severn Campus at the University of Worcester to create the infrastructure for extra nursing and health students, as well as many others.
The complete project list will follow the Government’s aim to support the country’s economic recovery by creating new jobs, reducing carbon emissions, building new houses and infrastructure projects and supporting the development of future talent. This also supports the Worcestershire LEP’s objectives outlined in their 10-year Strategic Economic Plan, to create 25,000 jobs, increase Gross Value Added (GVA) by £2.9bn and contribute towards the delivery of 21,500 new homes by 2025.
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “As we get Britain building we are also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery by investing in vital infrastructure for local communities, creating jobs and building environmentally-friendly homes with a huge £1.3bn investment announced today.
“This Government is determined to level up all parts of the country and this funding will not only give a much needed boost to our economic recovery, it will help build the good quality, affordable homes the country needs.”
Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are very excited to see this new funding confirmed by Government today. Worcestershire is set to receive £12M for a range of projects designed to stimulate growth and get the local economy back on track.
“Worcestershire is a key economy within the Midlands and this support from Government further emphasises that. We are looking forward to working with our partners across the county on these projects as we continue Worcestershire’s development towards our vision of a connected, creative, dynamic economy for all.”
Information around the projects confirmed within Worcestershire will be available on the Worcestershire LEP website over the next few months, for more detail, visit www.wlep.co.uk
Worcestershire’s full list of approved projects:
- Superfast Worcestershire: FTTP for Worcester
- Development of Malvern Technology Park
- A456 Improvements at Hagley
- Hoobrook Island Capacity Improvements (A449 / A442)
- Worcester Shrub Hill Quarter and Station Masterplan
- Redditch Transport Interchange
- Health, Wellbeing and Inclusive Sport facility in Worcester
- Construction and Automotive Skills Centre in Kidderminster
- Low Carbon Housing in Bromsgrove
- Flood Resilience at Tenbury Wells
- Keepax Walking and Cycling Bridge in Worcester
- Vale Business Park Development in Evesham