It’s full steam ahead on the Town Investment Plan to transform Shipley’s economic growth prospects with help from the UK government’s Towns Fund.
The fund will provide up to £25m for Shipley to invest in capital projects designed to improve connectivity, land use, economic and cultural assets, skills and enterprise infrastructure in the town.
The Shipley Town Deal Board, which includes businesses, the local MP, stakeholder organisations, the voluntary and community sector and representatives from Bradford Council and Shipley Town Council, is leading the work, with the support of many other local businesses and community stakeholders.
A vision and objectives for the Town Investment Plan have been drawn up and ideas for over 35 different projects have now been gathered by the Board. The next step is to choose the projects that will make the biggest difference to the town and will be submitted for government support.
On December 22, these chosen projects will be shared on the website https://www.bradford.gov.uk/regeneration/towns-fund/keighley-town-fund/ with links to a feedback form, to make sure that over Christmas and New Year the wider community can have their say on the ideas we propose to put forward for funding.
Adam Clerkin, who is chair of the Shipley Town Deal Board and Head of Operations at CarnaudMetalbox Engineering, said: “I’m very excited by the way we’ve all pulled together on this fantastic opportunity to deliver a lasting legacy for Shipley that will benefit the community for years to come. Our finished Town Investment Plan needs to be a true Shipley effort, so I encourage everyone to have their say when we share our chosen projects on December 22.”
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We’ve developed a vision, objectives and project ideas that I’m confident will secure this crucial government funding and really drive Shipley forward, despite everything Covid 19 has thrown at us this year. Please do make sure you give us your feedback about this important plan for Shipley’s future.”
Once the Town Investment Plan has been completed it will be submitted to the government at the end of January 2021.
