Four ambitious projects that will help transform Cleator Moor have reached a crucial milestone – but plans to create student accommodation will not go ahead.
The Cleator Moor Town Deal Board secured an offer of £22.5 million from the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund initiative last summer for the schemes, which are set to ensure the town and its communities benefit now and thrive into the future.
Four projects have now reached the business case assurance stage, meaning detailed plans have been submitted for internal assessment ahead of final submission to the Government later this year.
A fifth project that had been part of the initial Town Deal proposal will not be moving forward. Campus Town, a scheme to provide student accommodation in the town to facilitate planned growth at the University of Central Lancashire’s Westlakes Campus, has been discontinued.
A spokesman for the University of Central Lancashire said: “We are disappointed the scheme is not going ahead but having undertaken comprehensive planning and due diligence with architects, cost consultants and property advisors, even with grant funding, the business case was not viable from a long-term investment perspective. We would like to thank Copeland Borough Council and the Town Deal Board for the opportunity to work on this scheme.”
Bob Metcalfe, chair of the Cleator Moor Town Deal Board, said: “This is a very exciting and significant moment in the process for Cleator Moor. A great deal of work has gone into the development of the business cases to get them to this stage.
“Now every element of the proposed projects will be carefully assessed to ensure they are robust and will bring about meaningful and tangible change that is sustainable in the long term.
“The planned investment in Cleator Moor represents a once in a generation opportunity and I’m delighted with the progress made to date.”
The business cases for the four projects moving forward to the next stage will now undergo a rigorous process of stress testing before any final refinements are made and they are signed off by the Town Deal Board and Copeland Borough Council to be submitted to the Government for final approval this summer.
The Town Deal projects aim to help maximise inclusive economic growth and facilitate better connectivity for the area while developing a modern town with world-class companies in a range of sectors complemented with an expanded cultural and leisure offering
The projects moving to the business case assurance stage are:
Enterprising Town
The redevelopment of the existing Leconfield Industrial Estate to provide employment and training opportunities for residents in Cleator Moor as well as helping to diversify the local economy. The proposal will create new buildings on site including an Enterprise Campus Hub, the refurbishment of existing units and extensive landscaping.
Revitalised Town
To increase activity and footfall around the Town Square by bringing vacant and under-utilised buildings back into active use while creating an attractive new public realm. Uses will include a new cultural community hub and enhanced business space.
Healthy Town
To enhance existing sports and leisure provision to create a modern multi-purpose centre including an indoor sports hall, flexible studio space, gym and café, alongside wider health and well-being provision. 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 which improves connections between employment, education, amenities and leisure and transforms the accessibility and attractiveness of Cleator Moor.
