Towns to get £20m for farm shop, shopping centre and power plant

AN area of Nottinghamshire will get millions to fund a new farm shop, a shopping centre revamp and preparations for a nuclear fusion power plant.

Bassetlaw will receive a £20m boost to regenerate local towns, tackle anti-social behaviour and refurbish community centres, as part of a major regeneration project announced by the Government yesterday. 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 Government says the investment package, the majority of which will take the form of a £14m redevelopment of the old print rooms in Worksop, a vacant retail unit in Priory Shopping Centre and a derelict site in Harworth & Bircotes, will transform the region.

Worksop will receive a further £1.5m to renovate derelict land and create a community farm shop. Worksop, Retford and Tuxford will be given £3m to fund streetscaping changes to improve access and tackle anti-social behaviour.

Bassetlaw district’s preparations for the arrival of Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), the UK’S programme to develop a prototype nuclear fusion plant at the former West Burton coal-fired power station, will also be given £200,000. Retford town centre will get another £1m to create a new community space, including a banking hub and £150,000 for investment in Manton Children’s Centre for use as a “Family Hub” to support local families.

“This new Levelling Up Partnership is massive news for Bassetlaw and will make a real difference in the region,” said James Naish, leader of Bassetlaw District Council. “This £20m 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 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 contribute to delivering the council’s vision for Bassetlaw as a whole to become an even better place to live, work and do business.”