Millom Town Deal submitted to Government in final step towards unlocking funding

BUSINESS case summaries in support of unlocking once-in-a-lifetime funding for Millom’s £20.6 million Town Deal have been submitted to Government.

Working alongside Copeland Borough Council, the Millom Town Deal Board secured the funding offer in July 2021 for four projects it identified as local priorities in the Town Investment Plan.

The submission of the summary documents is the final step on the journey towards being able to draw down the promised regeneration money to help the town and its communities thrive now and into the future.

Robert Morris-Eyton, Chair of the Millom Town Deal Board, said: “This is a huge milestone in the process and my thanks go to everyone who has worked so hard to get the Town Deal to this point.

“The opportunity to secure regeneration funding, particularly on this scale, really is very rare and it’s one that Millom mustn’t miss out on.

“Accessing this type of funding is also complex and the criteria is strict, but I’m delighted that we have a set of projects that will help our town and its people in the future so that we have healthy, happy communities and an economy that is strong and resilient following the pandemic.”

With match funding in place, the Town Deal is set to bring an even larger investment into Millom through the Town Deal’s four projects. The projects are: 

The Iron Line – A proposal to transform the unique coastal lagoon into an inspiring visitor attraction which fuses ecology, heritage and art within an inclusive recreational space around the sea wall.

Reactivating Heritage Buildings – A proposal to significantly enhance Millom Town Centre by bringing derelict, vacant and underused heritage buildings back into active use to increase vitality and footfall.

Activating Community Health – The creation of a new, multi-purpose leisure hub to provide a range of facilities including a community swimming pool and 3G pitch. 

Connected Millom and Haverigg – Improving Millom’s transport network to create a gateway to the town at the railway station, while transforming cycling and walking infrastructure in both Millom and Haverigg.

The business cases were approved by members of the Millom Town Deal board, made up of individuals, organisations, businesses and groups operating within or representing the town, in July.

Copeland Borough Council’s Executive Committee has also given the final submission its seal of approval.

It is hoped confirmation of the funding will be received from Government later this year.

Mike Starkie, the Mayor of Copeland, said: “Millom’s Town Deal has reached a significant point in the process of turning an offer of funding from Government into a confirmation.

“We look forward to hearing from Government about the funding as soon as possible so the Town Deal can start to deliver the projects, realising the benefits for everyone.”

Editors’ Notes

On July 27, 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the Towns Fund would support an initial 101 places across England to develop Town Deal proposals, to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth. See further details of the announcement: PM speech at Manchester Science and Industry Museum – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

A Town Deal is an agreement in principle between government, the Lead Council and the Town Deal Board. It will set out a vision and strategy for the town, and what each party agrees to do to achieve this vision. See the 101 places being supported to develop Town Deals: list-of-100-places.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Each of the 101 towns selected to work towards a Town Deal also received accelerated funding last year for investment in capital projects that would have an immediate impact and help places “build back better” in the wake of Covid-19. View a list of accelerated funding by place: towns-fund-accelerated-funding-grants.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)