Four areas of Nottinghamshire have received a combined total of around £57 million in levelling up funding from the Government after Nottingham missed out on the same amount. Nottingham City Council was the largest Nottinghamshire bid made during the second round of the Government's Levelling Up Fund.
Money in the city would have been spent on the redevelopment of the Broad Marsh and Island Quarter, whilst Bulwell would have received town centre improvements. Nottingham did not get any money from this round, having also failed to secure any following the first funding round.
Newark was the only Nottinghamshire district council successful in getting levelling up funding following the first round, but four areas have been given money this time. Below are the four successful Nottinghamshire areas and the projects that the money allocated for them will be used on.
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Mansfield
Mansfield will be receiving £20 million to modernise the town's former Beales building, which has been vacant since the national department store chain went into administration after the coronavirus lockdown. Sitting close to the Four Seasons Shopping Centre, the large 1930s building is set to become a new headquarters for Mansfield District Council.
It will also house a variety of other public sector organisations, with the DWP and Nottingham Trent University being among those who have expressed an interest in having a Mansfield base. Andy Abrahams, the Mayor of Mansfield, said: "The wait may have been agonising, but I am elated to see that we have received approval for our full bid of £20 million from the Government's Levelling Up Fund.
"The building has long needed repurposing and will be brought back to life to rejuvenate our town centre. This repurposing will then have a knock-on effect, stimulating our local economy and encouraging private-sector investment into Mansfield District, which benefits everybody."
Mansfield's Conservative MP Ben Bradley said: "The potential for the old Beales building to be developed and brought back into use has long been talked about and this money from government means these plans can finally become reality and we can get construction started. If Beales is properly utilised it can prove to be that key draw factor we need to bring people and businesses back into our town centre, as well as providing vital services to local people."
Worksop
Worksop will receive nearly £18 million from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, with a further £2 million being contributed by Bassetlaw District Council and others. Councillor James Naish, the Leader of Bassetlaw District Council said: "We have a long-term vision for the regeneration of Worksop town centre and the levelling up funding is key to attracting further investment and unlocking the town's potential.
"Our immediate focus will be the redevelopment of the Priory Centre with new leisure facilities, encouraging people into the town centre and giving visitors a reason to stay. This builds on the recent investment in the town centre through the Bridge Skills Hub and the new Middleton's Yard development, creating a growing sense of confidence for Worksop."
The Priory Centre project will see a brand new leisure facility being built there featuring tenpin bowling, an indoor soft play area and a trampoline park. Other projects in Worksop include a new footbridge over the Chesterfield Canal and a new towpath along it.
Brendan Clarke-Smith, Bassetlaw's Conservative MP, said: "I'm absolutely delighted about this and Worksop is a town that we are so, so proud of but we think the town centre at times maybe lets the town down a little bit and there is so much more that can be achieved. This is what levelling up is about and we thought we had a very strong bid, we've actually got it and this isn't the end, this is just the start."
Kimberley
Kimberley will receive an investment of £16.5 million from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, which will be spent mostly on town centre improvements. One of the other major projects will be improving the area's cycling network.
Darren Henry, the Conservative MP for Broxtowe, said: "From the moment the Government announced the Levelling Up scheme, I was clear there should be a bid centred on Kimberley and for the past two years I have been working with the town and borough councillors and with local residents and businesses to ensure we submitted a strong and successful bid. I am looking forward to getting these exciting new projects off the ground and ensuring that the people of Kimberley and the surrounding area can take advantage of the fantastic opportunities on offer."
Sutton-in-Ashfield
The £3.1 million that Sutton-in-Ashfield has been allocated will be used to develop a new facility at the Sherwood Observatory. A planetarium and educational centre will be built there, whilst an underground Victorian reservoir will also be transformed.
Councillor Matthew Relf, the Executive Lead Member for Regeneration and Corporate Transformation at Ashfield District Council, said: "I am over the moon that we have secured £3.1million funding from the Levelling Up Fund. The observatory is one of Ashfield's greatest assets and Mansfield & Sutton Astronomical Society (MSAS) have developed a great plan to turn it into a fantastic visitor and educational centre.
"Funding had already been secured for the project through our £62.6million Towns Fund and so we know how fantastic the plans for the observatory are. It will bring enormous benefits to the local economy, and education, in Ashfield, and will draw visitors from across the East Midlands. The observatory is one of our flagship projects that will have a positive impact on Ashfield’s local tourism and help shape ambitions for future generations."
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