£203m boost for East Midlands announced by Chancellor in his spending review budget this week.
The Chancellor has announced a series of investments across the East Midlands in his Autumn Budget statement to support local infrastructure improvements through the Levelling Up Fund.
Four of the ten East Midlands projects are in Leicestershire.
These include:
- Establishing a new science centre at Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire.
- Revitalising Leicester Railway Station.
- Transforming the dilapidated Pilot House in Leicester into high-quality
accommodation. - Developing Pioneer Park in Leicester which supports a fast-growing space and satellite technology sector.
Projects elsewhere in the East Midlands include:
- Building a four-screen cinema in Gainsborough Town Centre.
- Completing the Southern Link Road between Farndon and Balderton.
- Building a new junction on the A50 in Derbyshire.
- Remodelling Stephenson Memorial Hall in Chesterfield.
- Repairing streets across Nottingham.
- Improving the A16 corridor in Lincolnshire.
Kevin Harris, Chair of the LLEP Board of Directors, said:
“This is very welcome news regarding the Levelling Up Fund and the success for four local projects being allocated funding.
“This was a significant budget, focused on delivering a high wage, high skill, high productivity, economy and Leicester and Leicestershire are showing the ambition needed to capitalise on the opportunities this creates for local people in our city and county.”
Other funding announcements in the Autumn statement for Leicestershire included £250,000 from the Community Ownership Fund for the Hub Community Centre and Café in Thurnby to protect this valued community asset.
A £40 million investment in Leicester will be made through the Transforming Cities fund, including funding for a city centre Electric Bus Link to connect rail and bus stations with the city centre.
Also an allocation of £19 million from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding to support delivery of around 96 zero emission buses (approximately a third of the existing bus fleet) in Leicester.
In addition, £7m has been announced for for the National Forest to support woodland creation in the East Midlands, covering parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.
IMAGE: Artist impression of the new interior for Leicester Railway Station