TAMESIDE Council is celebrating after learning it could receive almost £20 million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund for Stalybridge – after resigning itself to losing out.
Now it is being told to act rather than order reports.
The authority’s bid for £19.9 million was initially turned down by the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
But as a result of the Budget 2023 announcement on Wednesday, March 15, extra money was handed over.
And Stalybridge was one of 16 projects in the country to be told it will now get funds, subject to checks.
In Tameside Council’s bid was £9.2 million worth of remediation and re-provision of existing surface car parking on brownfield land, which it says, ‘unlocks the sites for future residential development and helps to facilitate further private sector investment.’
Also proposed was £8 million of public realm improvements, improved pedestrian and cycle routes and access to public transport.
Repair works to the Civic Hall – particularly its roof – would cost £1.5 million while it is also hopes £1.3 million of work can be done at Astley Cheetham Art Gallery to enhance the provision and accessibility of the art gallery and library.
Now it has been given the go ahead with the award, many people are telling Tameside to get spades in the ground rather than commission more paperwork.
And its leader, Cllr Ged Cooney, said: “The monies will allow us to build on the existing work underway in Stalybridge.
“Supporting the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Town Centre Challenge and complementing the emerging work in relation to the Stalybridge High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) including the projects on the Heritage Walk, Civic Hall and public realm improvements.
“This work will also be closely linked with the improvements to our public and green spaces and supporting cultural activities following the successful £2million proposal to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for borough wide projects.
“This is fantastic news for Stalybridge, we felt we had a strong bid around our plans and we were disappointed when it was unsuccessful in round two of the Levelling Up fund, and so this is welcome news for Tameside.
“We remain committed as always to improving all our town centres and making them great places for everyone to live, work and visit and we will continue to seek opportunities to bring further investment into the borough and bid for funding pots where they become available.”
Cllr Cooney was told the money will be coming – if further subsidy control checks are passed, allowing Tameside to ramp up work in and around the Castle Street area – in a letter from secretary of state Michael Gove.
It says: “I understand the disappointment you will have felt when that bid was not successful.
“We received an extraordinarily high number of quality applications to the second round of the fund and, despite the strength of your bid, the competitive nature of this round meant your bid was not successful at the time.
“However, as a result of re-focusing departmental budgets, we are now able to fund further capital regeneration projects, which will support more regeneration projects across the country.
“Through this, I am delighted to inform you that my department will be awarding you £19,906,620 for your ‘Stalybridge Town Centre Regeneration’ bid.
“These grants are provisional and are subject to further subsidy control checks.”
Stalybridge’s MP, Jonathan Reynolds, could not hide his delight.
He said: “It was genuinely hard to understand what the Government wanted.
When the official feedback came it said the bid was ‘very strong’ and matched the Government’s ‘strategic priorities.’
“But we still didn’t get it. I didn’t expect much from the process but I admit I was angry when I saw some of the bids that did get through.”
A Tameside Council report certainly built up the importance of the proposal.
It said: “This will help the town centre to reach its full potential and deliver further comprehensive regeneration, attracting additional investment.
“This will in turn help to deliver a catalytic economic and social impact to the local community.”
After Stalybridge followed Ashton in being awarded money, Tameside Council will now focus on getting a id for Denton, which was turned down, over the line.
And Mr Reynolds says a proposal for Hyde is in the pipeline.
He added: “I know – and understand – at times like this residents of other towns, especially Hyde, will want to know when they will get similar?
“That’s only fair. With Hyde, the masterplan should be done by May and then we can start building the funding package it needs to be delivered.
“I want a great future for all our town centres and I’ll keep working on it until we get what we need.”