Budget to pave way for £24m facelift

MORLEY IS set to get a £24m facelift as part of the government’s towns fund, following the Budget announcement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Morley’s Town Investment Plan, developed with councillors and residents, outlined ambitious plans to help transform the town, with improvements to some of its most iconic buildings.

And, following the receipt of a £24.3m grant from the Government’s towns fund, Morley is now able to press on with its plans. The towns bid stated that the New Pavilion Skills Campus – on the site of the former Orbit/After Dark night club – would see the historic site redeveloped into a “high-quality adult skills hub”.

Other planned work includes improvements to Morley Town Hall and Town Square, “delivering a high-quality refurbishment of the Grade I listed building and developing a cluster of arts and culture spaces”.

An improvement to the socalled Morley Station Gateway, would help “better connect the railway station to the town centre and wider Morley area”. Leeds Council says work will now begin on developing the projects in detail over the next year.

Coun Helen Hayden, Leeds Council’s executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, said: “I am delighted to see this investment pledged to help Morley build on its esteemed history, better connecting the town, developing the skills and opportunities for its residents, and enhancing its greenspaces for future generations to come.”

Andrea Jenkyns, MP for Morley and Outwood, said: “The announcement in the budget represents an exciting moment in the story of Morley with the government investing over £24m into our town. I am excited to see how these projects develop and truly believe that they will deliver on the vision laid out for the future of Morley as part of the Town Investment Plan.”

A SPACE in the Odeon’s basement will become the Boiler Room Bar, which the plans describe as “raw and industrial” with few of the grander decorative features of the upper bars.

Despite the pandemic slowing down infrastructure projects, work has been continuing on the inside of the building in the past few weeks.

The NEC Group is still yet to announce the main contractor.