Keighley Towns Fund bid awaits decision

A bid for over £25m to transform Keighley, was submitted via a Towns Fund Investment Plan to the Government’s Towns Fund in early February and is now awaiting a decision.

The Town Deal Board for Keighley has been encouraged to put in for more than the £25m offered due to the extent of the aspiration for growth within Keighley’s business community that the bid will produce economic activity, of regional significance.

The Keighley Town Fund bid aims to invest in capital projects which will be designed to improve connectivity both to Keighley and within the area, improve land use in and around the town, and make the best use of its economic and cultural assets, as well as the skills and enterprise infrastructure in the town.

The Town Investment Plan was developed by the Town Deal Board; a collaboration of private and public sector and community representation; ensuring community and business voices were involved in shaping the proposals.

The Board set a clear vision and strategy for Keighley and identified projects to help boost the local economy and create much needed employment and training opportunities.

The Town Investment Plan covers both economic and complementary activities, reflecting the broad scope of the fund. It reflects the ambition and potential of the town to make a major contribution over the coming years as the economy recovers following the pandemic.

Assessment of the proposals by government will be followed by preparation of detailed business cases during 2021. Agreement on funding and delivery will then follow. It is expected that a response from government will be received following consideration of the proposals in the next few months.

The absence of Keighley's Town's Fund bid from the announcement by the Chancellor as part of his budget on Wednesday, has led to some people wrongly concluding that the bid has been rejected.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which acts jointly with local authorities, has already designated Keighley a Spatial Priority Area – a status applied to the Town Fund towns in West Yorkshire – a recognition that WYCA will try to align other funds to complement the anticipated Town Fund investment.

Chair of Keighley’s Town Deal Board Ian Hayfield, said: “We would like to thank everyone who has participated in the development process -  making a real collaborative effort. We are passionate about delivering real change for Keighley and want everyone to continue on this journey with us.

“The plan that we have submitted provides a sense of aspiration whilst celebrating the town and its achievements. The money we have bid for, could be a real game changer for Keighley.

“The government expects to see wide involvement and co-operation from all parties to develop these proposals and it’s great to see Keighley pull together to steer our future.

“This plan does not simply aim for recovery from the pandemic, it recognises the pent-up ambition that there is and aims to turn it into reality.”

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “The Town Investment Plan for Keighley demonstrates how well the public sector and businesses can work together in pursuit of a stronger economy with all the benefits that brings.

“The plan reflects local need, shows its evidence and provides a strategy to deliver and draw in further investment.

“We await a decision from the Government in the next few months which will allow the board to get going on the actions from the plan.”

 

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