Revealed: How the £23.6m to regenerate town is being spent
DETAILS have been released of how £23.6m Runcorn regeneration funding is to be spent. Halton Borough Council’s successful bid was announced in July after the town investment plan was submitted at the start of the year, and the Runcorn Town Deal Board has now provided further details on how the cash will be divided between seven projects.
Under the banner of “Reconnecting Runcorn”, the scheme’s overarching aim is to make the town “a prime location”, by providing the workforce, connectivity and infrastructure to support businesses and enable residents to thrive, a spokeswoman for the local authority said.
Halton Council said the seven pillars of the overall project were suggested by members of the public, companies, neighbourhood groups and the council itself.
In its submission, the Runcorn Town Investment Plan had asked for £24.9m of Government funding, but landed short of that.
The Runcorn Town Deal Board has now agreed revised funding allocations for each of the seven Reconnecting Runcorn projects.
These are reported to be:
● Runcorn Station Quarter £1,245,643: A new enterprise facility as part of the revamped station gateway, with “quality” modern offices, that are not available in the town centre, located in an open and welcoming new green environment, with a goal to attract businesses, provide a wider variety of jobs “for all” in a more welcoming and accessible green environment.
● Unlock Runcorn £4,918,025: A “new and unique visitor offer, maximising the use of heritage and waterway assets, providing increased visitor footfall and spend, to help the town centre thrive and take advantage of the canal and its surroundings”. This project will pivot on reconnecting the Bridgewater and Manchester Ship canals to encourage more boating tourism and includes ambitions to build a marina and boat lift with visitor centre.
● Brindley Theatre improvements, £6,606,231: A “well-designed” extension to the Brindley Theatre with a large cafe-restaurant, and a “welcoming, safe, and inclusive civic space” on the Brindley green, providing a more accessible and visible cultural destination.
● Town Centre New Homes £960,294: New “quality homes” on a variety of sites, which have been left undeveloped due to contamination and other issues, with the aim of providing homes for an ageing population and to attract families with young children.
● High Street Connectivity £2,820,198: A more pedestrian and cycling friendly High Street environment, providing better local connections, and more opportunities for active lifestyles, social interaction and wellbeing.
● Health and Education Hub £2,853,520: A new health and education facility on the High Street providing residents with improved access to a wider variety of health, wellbeing, and training services.
● Creative and Digital Skills Centre £3,960,089: A new skills facility on the high street providing, especially young people, access to creative and digital play, learn, and training for future