TWO bids from Staffordshire to the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 (LUF2) have been approved by Government, with funding going towards Staffordshire County Council’s bid to improve the A38 Branston Interchange junction, the A34 and introduce new, electric-powered buses.
East Staffordshire Borough Council’s own bid to LUF2 was not taken forward, with the Government setting out a desire to see a wider geographical spread of successful bids across the Country as well as targeting funding towards the South East region and Burton already receiving more than £30m in investment across the funds. In a letter from the Government regarding the outcome of the LUF2 bid, it was also confirmed that a third round of the Levelling Up Fund will be launched, with details available shortly.
Leader of the Council, Cllr George Allen, said:
“It is always welcome news when funding is made available to Staffordshire and even more so when that funding will help to drive growth in Burton upon Trent. The success of the County Council’s £6million transport bid means that a more comprehensive improvement scheme will be delivered at Branston interchange, enabling the delivery of the new phase of Branston Locks and preventing the need for two rounds of improvements to the roundabout. Alongside this, the potential to see electric buses in Burton is fantastic and I am pleased the Borough Council were able to support this bid.
This Council remains committed to progressing a major redevelopment of the High Street site and we are determined to see a new Museum of Burton and Brewing too. Our plans for both the High Street site and the Market Hall have not changed and we will continue to work towards making a positive, sustainable and lasting investment in the Town Centre of Burton.
Burton Upon Trent has a proud history and a bright future and we will make the most of every opportunity to secure funding.”
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Business Support and Marketing, Cllr Adam Clarke, said:
“It’s a disappointing outcome for Burton upon Trent to not secure additional regeneration funding, but with more than 600 bids to LUF2 and a 20% success rate nationally, this was always a potential outcome of the bid.
At the time the bid was submitted, we had yet to identify a future use for Old Bass House and the Market Hall Working Group review was still underway. I welcome the opportunity to submit a bid to a third round of the Levelling Up Fund, LUF3, once the business cases for these projects and the indoor entertainment space have been further developed to complement our existing ambitious regeneration projects and deliver a better Burton for residents.
In the meantime, the Council has been actively working with interested private sector organisations and investors on potential funding streams for the Burton High Street project as well as beginning to build a business case for the Heritage Lottery Fund. There are still a number of funding opportunities to explore, in addition to the announced LUF3, meaning our work on building the Museum at Old Bass House and Market Hall proposals continues unchanged.”
Plans for the High Street Museum proposal will be brought to a meeting of Full Council in September 2023, where Members will consider the wider funding package available to the project and agree the next steps for taking it forward, potentially including a LUF3 bid. Funding to develop a bid for LUF3 remains available to the Council, with only one third of the capacity funding made available to Local Authorities being spent so far.
Separately, the Towns Fund grant for the High Street project remains committed and available to the Council, with the first tranche of payments already being received. In total, the High Street project has more than £20,000,000 allocated to it, with £15,000,000 remaining to take the project forward following the purchase of the property.
TWO bids from Staffordshire to the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 (LUF2) have been approved by Government, with funding going towards Staffordshire County Council’s bid to improve the A38 Branston Interchange junction, the A34 and introduce new, electric-powered buses.
East Staffordshire Borough Council’s own bid to LUF2 was not taken forward, with the Government setting out a desire to see a wider geographical spread of successful bids across the Country as well as targeting funding towards the South East region and Burton already receiving more than £30m in investment across the funds. In a letter from the Government regarding the outcome of the LUF2 bid, it was also confirmed that a third round of the Levelling Up Fund will be launched, with details available shortly.
Leader of the Council, Cllr George Allen, said:
“It is always welcome news when funding is made available to Staffordshire and even more so when that funding will help to drive growth in Burton upon Trent. The success of the County Council’s £6million transport bid means that a more comprehensive improvement scheme will be delivered at Branston interchange, enabling the delivery of the new phase of Branston Locks and preventing the need for two rounds of improvements to the roundabout. Alongside this, the potential to see electric buses in Burton is fantastic and I am pleased the Borough Council were able to support this bid.
This Council remains committed to progressing a major redevelopment of the High Street site and we are determined to see a new Museum of Burton and Brewing too. Our plans for both the High Street site and the Market Hall have not changed and we will continue to work towards making a positive, sustainable and lasting investment in the Town Centre of Burton.
Burton Upon Trent has a proud history and a bright future and we will make the most of every opportunity to secure funding.”
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Business Support and Marketing, Cllr Adam Clarke, said:
“It’s a disappointing outcome for Burton upon Trent to not secure additional regeneration funding, but with more than 600 bids to LUF2 and a 20% success rate nationally, this was always a potential outcome of the bid.
At the time the bid was submitted, we had yet to identify a future use for Old Bass House and the Market Hall Working Group review was still underway. I welcome the opportunity to submit a bid to a third round of the Levelling Up Fund, LUF3, once the business cases for these projects and the indoor entertainment space have been further developed to complement our existing ambitious regeneration projects and deliver a better Burton for residents.
In the meantime, the Council has been actively working with interested private sector organisations and investors on potential funding streams for the Burton High Street project as well as beginning to build a business case for the Heritage Lottery Fund. There are still a number of funding opportunities to explore, in addition to the announced LUF3, meaning our work on building the Museum at Old Bass House and Market Hall proposals continues unchanged.”
Plans for the High Street Museum proposal will be brought to a meeting of Full Council in September 2023, where Members will consider the wider funding package available to the project and agree the next steps for taking it forward, potentially including a LUF3 bid. Funding to develop a bid for LUF3 remains available to the Council, with only one third of the capacity funding made available to Local Authorities being spent so far.
Separately, the Towns Fund grant for the High Street project remains committed and available to the Council, with the first tranche of payments already being received. In total, the High Street project has more than £20,000,000 allocated to it, with £15,000,000 remaining to take the project forward following the purchase of the property.