Investment plan submitted in bid to secure £58M investment for Dewsbury

Following approval by Kirklees Council’s cabinet on the 19 January, an investment plan has been submitted by the Dewsbury Town Board demonstrating how their bid for £25M of funding from Government’s Towns Deal Fund would be spent.The investment plan which has been submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government was developed following consultation with local people at end of 2020.It proposes nine projects that the Dewsbury Town Board feels would best benefit from the funding and deliver on what is important to local people.Should the bid be successful, in order to make sure they can successfully complete the projects, the council and the Dewsbury Town Board will also seek £33.6M of match funding from a variety of sources including council capital, Arts Council grants, private sector contributions, and the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund and Getting Building Fund.Once agreed the Dewsbury Town Board will enter into a Town Deal with government, before drawing up more detailed plans for the proposed schemes.The full list of projects included in the Town Improvement Plan are:£1.3M for the redevelopment of The Arcade as a multiuse space.£6.6M for an improved market offer in the town.£3.15M to build on the success of the Townscape Heritage Initiative with a new Building Revival Scheme.£250,000 investment in digital connectivity for town centre properties.£6.25M to create a town park and improve the public realm throughout the town.£1.5M investment in construction skills for local people.£2.195M investment in the Union Arts Centre and a programme of cultural activities as part of the town’s creative town ambitions.£3m to develop a living town at Daisy Hill in Dewsbury, and finally £1.325M to improve the roads and make it safer and easier to travel by bike or on foot.This latest funding opportunity will build on the council’s earlier investments of over £8M in the town, including the recent redevelopment of Pioneer House as the Pioneers Higher Skills Centre, and the purchase of The Arcade.