A website packed with information about the Cleator Moor Town Deal has been launched, with the aim of keeping residents up to date with developments relating to a planned major regeneration programme.
Working with Copeland Borough Council, Cleator Moor secured an offer of £22.5 million in June 2021 from the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund initiative to help ensure it can thrive as a great place to live, work and visit now and into the future.
Five transformational projects were selected to be taken forward as part of the bid and work is now underway to build detailed business cases ahead of submission to the government later this year.
Bob Metcalfe, chair of the Cleator Moor Town Deal Board, said: “Keeping the residents of Cleator Moor informed and involved in the town deal process is really important to us.
“The funding offered to the town presents us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make real and tangible changes that will benefit Cleator Moor for many years to come.
“We believe the new branding is modern and reflective of an ambitious town, with subtle references to its history and wonderful location.
“The new website will be updated with the latest news and opportunities for local people to get involved in the process, and I very much hope it is embraced as a window into the ongoing process to deliver five very exciting projects.”
Cleator Moor was among 101 towns invited to bid for a share of the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund in 2019 – part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda.
The five projects taken forward are:
- Enterprising Town – a project to develop an enterprise campus on the Leconfield Industrial Estate aimed at leveraging the economic growth potential of the Sellafield supply chain through a cluster approach to growing and diversifying the West Cumbria economy.
- Revitalised Town – to increase activity and footfall around the Town Square by bringing vacant and under-utilised buildings back into active use creating attractive new public spaces. Uses will include a new cultural community hub and enhanced business space.
- Campus Town – a scheme to provide flexible, fit for purpose student accommodation to facilitate planned growth at the University of Central Lancashire’s Westlakes Campus using vacant or derelict sites in Cleator Moor. This will support vitality and footfall in the town centre.
- Healthy Town – enhancing existing sports and leisure provision as well as providing a modern multi-purpose centre including an indoor sports hall, flexible studio space, gym and café, alongside wider health and well-being provision and targeted youth activity. This will improve population health and generate more reasons for people to visit and spend time in Cleator Moor.
- Connected Town – this scheme will deliver a high-quality integrated and sustainable transport network that improves connections between employment, education, amenities and leisure and transforms the accessibility and attractiveness of Cleator Moor.
The five projects are set out in Cleator Moor’s Town Investment Plan. They aim to help maximise inclusive economic growth and better connectivity for the area while developing a welcoming arts, culture and tourism offer, thriving independent businesses and healthy, active people.
You can visit the new website here.
