Latest news with #PlanforNeighbourhoods
The Herald Scotland
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Timeline for £24 million Greenock transformation revealed in new plans
The work will see a number of places demolished, including the Hector McNeil House, the Bullring Roundabout and the eastern side of the Oak Mall Shopping Centre. The A8 flyover in place of traffic light junctions will be removed, while the creation of new public spaces and a fresh entrance for the Oak Mall will also take place. Extensive planning has taken place on the project with some initial works and site investigations carried out. The main bulk of the work is to begin later in the year with contractors starting with the Oak Mall and Hector McNeill House works. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027 with more details on that to be announced in the future. Read More Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: 'This is a complex project involving various public and private sector partners and a lot of hard work has gone in behind the scenes to get to this stage where the main works are due to start soon. 'This is the biggest project of its kind in a generation with the aim of transforming central Greenock and the town centre for the better and is really exciting. 'It will build on the good work that's been done to date, including the new Ocean Terminal building and the West Blackhall Street redevelopment, by making Greenock a more accessible and attractive place to live, work, visit and do business. 'There will, of course, be disruption and we're not shying away from that. 'We're also well aware of disruption experienced by residents in recent times due to a variety of emergency and planned works, particularly on the roads network and we share those frustrations. 'Council officers are working closely with the main contractor and alongside our various partners to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. 'It's worth remembering though that the long-term goal here is to modernise and improve Greenock and to try and revitalise the town centre. 'I hope people will share in this positive outlook for the town and get behind Greenock.' The total investment in the central Greenock project is expected to be around £23.58m, including associated land and road improvement costs. Inverclyde Council successfully bid for £19.39m from the UK Government towards the project with the remaining £4.19m is being sourced from various external funding pots and the council's capital reserves. UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: "I welcome confirmation that the transformation of Greenock Town Centre will begin later this year. 'This exciting project, funded by £19.39 million UK Government investment, will boost the economy, create skilled Scottish jobs and enhance the lives of communities. "The UK Government is investing more than £1.4 billion in dozens of important local growth projects and programmes across Scotland over the next 10 years - including up to £20 million more for Greenock as part of our Plan for Neighbourhoods. 'Working with partners we will deliver a decade of national renewal through our Plan for Change." The transformative programme from Inverclyde Council will create civic spaces, a restructured retail offer and improve links between various parts of the town centre and the waterfront. The ageing A78 flyover and the Bullring Roundabout will be removed with the road brought down to ground level to improve access. It will be replaced by a low-level trunk road which brings the town together and provide easier access for visitors and residents.
Business News Wales
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Artists Wanted for Multi-million Pound Mural Symbolising Rhyl's Regeneration
Artists Wanted for Multi-million Pound Mural Symbolising Rhyl's Regeneration Artist and facilitator Ffion Pritchard is appealing for up to 10 creatives from across Denbighshire to produce a mural for the Ein Rhyl/Our Rhyl campaign. Supported by Rhyl Neighbourhood Board and Balfour Beatty – which carried out the East Parade redevelopment – the vision is to showcase the history and heart of the popular Welsh resort, leaving a legacy for future generations. Currently engaging with community groups, schools, businesses and the voluntary sector, Ffion, from Bangor, believes the concrete collaboration will stand the test of time and unite people in championing the area via up to 60 pre-cast units to be installed this August. 'Each artist will be tasked with creating a panel which represents the diverse, vibrant and creative communities of Rhyl,' she said. 'In addition to this work – which will be designed then printed on durable material, such as aluminium – we will hold workshops with schools and youth clubs to help create a thriving mural trail to reflect Rhyl today, reflecting on the past and its bright future. 'We want it to capture the excitement and progress happening in the town, which is a hive of activity with so many innovators, creatives, artists and young people. 'This will be a platform for them, a unique opportunity, so we hope to see a lot of engagement and enthusiasm for the project over the coming months.' Ffion's own background is in creative media and commercial illustration, with a focus on society, health and 'the power of storytelling'. A graduate of the University of Brighton, she will begin a Master's degree in Arts Practice: Art, Health and Wellbeing at the University of South Wales in September, having worked with a wide range of organisations and charities, including dementia cafes, homeless shelters and parent and child groups. Craig Sparrow, chair of Rhyl Neighbourhood Board, says the installation will be the 'perfect symbol' for the Ein Rhyl/Our Rhyl campaign, a £20 million regeneration strategy that will create employment, improve infrastructure and remove barriers to opportunity over the next 10 years, funded by the UK Government's Plan for Neighbourhoods programme. He said: 'As we begin a new chapter for the town, driven by the transformative action plan and timeline currently being drawn up by the Board, this is a fantastic project that will fuel creativity and passion in the area. 'It will also act as the perfect symbol for the next decade of regeneration and beyond, giving young people in particular a sense of ownership and pride in their community. 'We can't wait to see what they and Ffion come up with, I'm sure it's going to be incredible and really brighten up the seafront, bringing life to the promenade and a touch of colour to the vital sea defences constructed in past years.' Working on behalf of Denbighshire County Council, Balfour Beatty led on this project, which involved removing the old promenade and sea walls, as well as widening and lifting the new promenade to provide a better shared space for pedestrians and cyclists. They also built a concrete-stepped revetment structure to reduce flooding risk and erosion which will protect more than 600 properties previously affected by flooding in Central Rhyl.
Business Mayor
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
Popular resort named among UK's best seaside towns with stunning castle & Tudor streets to get £20m makeover
A UK seaside resort once dubbed a 'social mobility coldspot' has been given a major boost after securing nearly £20m of government investment. North Yorkshire Council said £19.5m had been allocated to Scarborough as part of the government's Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme. 7 The harbour in the historic seaside town of Scarborough is popular with locals and visitors 7 Scarborough's seafront arcades attract thousands of tourists a year 7 The towns has been dubbed Scarbados by locals – and the Queen of the Coast Credit: PA 7 Britney Spears performs at Scarborough Open Air Theatre for her Piece Of Me tour in 2018 The authority said it had previously devised a '10-year vision document' following public consultation, which named improving the town centre and bus services as priorities. Council leader Carl Les said: 'The chance to use such a significant amount of funding in Scarborough will bring wide-ranging benefits not just for communities in the town, but also far wider across the region. 'Scarborough is one of our biggest towns here in North Yorkshire, and there is real potential to bring a new era for what is among the country's most popular seaside destinations.' While the locals call it Scarbados, the Queen of the Coast – it has an ancient castle, spectacular cliffs, Tudor streets and two sandy beaches – there is a downside to living in Scarborough. In 2017, the Office for National Statistics reported the town had the lowest average income in Britain while it has also been described as being a personal bankruptcy hotspot and a social mobility coldspot. But in recent years the town has been fighting back. Last month it was named as one of Britain's best seaside towns by Conde Nasté Traveller while there has been something of a cultural renaissance too with the success of the 6,000-capacity Open Air Theatre. The theatre was reopened by the Queen in 2010 and now claims to be Europe's largest amphitheatre 'since antiquity'. Each year since its renovation it has attracted bigger names to its stage, which sits in the middle of a lake next to England's bracing east coast. Weston Hotel: Scarborough's Coastal Gem Promoters Cuffe and Taylor (C&T) book the acts for the council-owned venue and secured the services of Britney Spears in 2018 and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds twice: in 2016 and 2018. C&T's Peter Taylor reportedly discovered that one of Spears's representatives is originally from Leeds, and liked the idea of bringing the American superstar to the Yorkshire seaside. This summer's headliners include The Corrs, Gary Barlow, Pendulum and Shed Seven. Another group of entrepreneurs, Scarborough Group International, also plans to transform the town's Brunswick Centre into a 'dynamic, leisure-led destination', complete with a state-of-the-art cinema. 'Like so many traditional seaside destinations, Scarborough has faced stiff economic challenges, which need to be met with a concerted effort from the authorities and businesses invested in the town,' said Mark Jackson, who is leading the project and was born and raised in the town. 'Scarborough has great strengths and remains popular but, for the town centre to thrive, it must evolve to suit a much-changed world.' Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee, said: 'Scarborough is such a wonderful place to live, work and visit, but like so many coastal areas, it does need investment.' Additional public spaces and seating areas, as well as further development of the Scarborough Station area, were also named as potential projects in the earlier plan. Key priorities for people who took part in the consultations included a cleaner, more attractive town centre in Scarborough and more frequent bus services, especially for teenagers and the elderly. The programme has now been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods with an expanded remit to improve health and wellbeing along with work, productivity and skills. It is also aimed at boosting cohesion and education along with opportunities for local communities. The original ambitions of the national programme, which was previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns, also remain and include reviving town centres, regeneration, promoting heritage and culture and addressing safety and security concerns. Improving transport and connectivity are also key considerations under the initiative. More public consultation would be carried out before a new plan was submitted by the winter of this year, the council said. Projects are set to be rolled out from spring 2026. Councillor Les added: 'The fact that the scope of the Plan for Neighbourhoods has been broadened to the previous incarnation of the scheme gives us an even greater chance to transform Scarborough for residents, businesses and visitors.' 7 There is a natural beauty to Scarborough, which boasts two sandy beaches 7 Residents say they want improved transport links for their town
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Popular resort named among UK's best seaside towns with stunning castle & Tudor streets to get £20m makeover
Britney Spears and Noel Gallagher are among the stars to have recently performed in the town COASTAL REVAMP Popular resort named among UK's best seaside towns with stunning castle & Tudor streets to get £20m makeover Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A UK seaside resort once dubbed a "social mobility coldspot" has been given a major boost after securing nearly £20m of government investment. North Yorkshire Council said £19.5m had been allocated to Scarborough as part of the government's Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 The harbour in the historic seaside town of Scarborough is popular with locals and visitors 7 Scarborough's seafront arcades attract thousands of tourists a year 7 The towns has been dubbed Scarbados by locals – and the Queen of the Coast Credit: PA 7 Britney Spears performs at Scarborough Open Air Theatre for her Piece Of Me tour in 2018 The authority said it had previously devised a "10-year vision document" following public consultation, which named improving the town centre and bus services as priorities. Council leader Carl Les said: "The chance to use such a significant amount of funding in Scarborough will bring wide-ranging benefits not just for communities in the town, but also far wider across the region. "Scarborough is one of our biggest towns here in North Yorkshire, and there is real potential to bring a new era for what is among the country's most popular seaside destinations." While the locals call it Scarbados, the Queen of the Coast – it has an ancient castle, spectacular cliffs, Tudor streets and two sandy beaches – there is a downside to living in Scarborough. In 2017, the Office for National Statistics reported the town had the lowest average income in Britain while it has also been described as being a personal bankruptcy hotspot and a social mobility coldspot. But in recent years the town has been fighting back. Last month it was named as one of Britain's best seaside towns by Conde Nasté Traveller while there has been something of a cultural renaissance too with the success of the 6,000-capacity Open Air Theatre. The theatre was reopened by the Queen in 2010 and now claims to be Europe's largest amphitheatre 'since antiquity'. Each year since its renovation it has attracted bigger names to its stage, which sits in the middle of a lake next to England's bracing east coast. Weston Hotel: Scarborough's Coastal Gem Promoters Cuffe and Taylor (C&T) book the acts for the council-owned venue and secured the services of Britney Spears in 2018 and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds twice: in 2016 and 2018. C&T's Peter Taylor reportedly discovered that one of Spears's representatives is originally from Leeds, and liked the idea of bringing the American superstar to the Yorkshire seaside. This summer's headliners include The Corrs, Gary Barlow, Pendulum and Shed Seven. Another group of entrepreneurs, Scarborough Group International, also plans to transform the town's Brunswick Centre into a "dynamic, leisure-led destination", complete with a state-of-the-art cinema. 'Like so many traditional seaside destinations, Scarborough has faced stiff economic challenges, which need to be met with a concerted effort from the authorities and businesses invested in the town," said Mark Jackson, who is leading the project and was born and raised in the town. "Scarborough has great strengths and remains popular but, for the town centre to thrive, it must evolve to suit a much-changed world." Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee, said: "Scarborough is such a wonderful place to live, work and visit, but like so many coastal areas, it does need investment." Additional public spaces and seating areas, as well as further development of the Scarborough Station area, were also named as potential projects in the earlier plan. Key priorities for people who took part in the consultations included a cleaner, more attractive town centre in Scarborough and more frequent bus services, especially for teenagers and the elderly. The programme has now been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods with an expanded remit to improve health and wellbeing along with work, productivity and skills. It is also aimed at boosting cohesion and education along with opportunities for local communities. The original ambitions of the national programme, which was previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns, also remain and include reviving town centres, regeneration, promoting heritage and culture and addressing safety and security concerns. Improving transport and connectivity are also key considerations under the initiative. More public consultation would be carried out before a new plan was submitted by the winter of this year, the council said. Projects are set to be rolled out from spring 2026. Councillor Les added: 'The fact that the scope of the Plan for Neighbourhoods has been broadened to the previous incarnation of the scheme gives us an even greater chance to transform Scarborough for residents, businesses and visitors.' 7 There is a natural beauty to Scarborough, which boasts two sandy beaches 7 Residents say they want improved transport links for their town
North Wales Live
07-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Multi-million pound food hall and market taking shape in North Wales seaside town
The interior of a multi-million pound food hall and market development is taking shape. The internal work at the Queen's Market building in Rhyl is progressing, with a number of key features now installed at the site. The new £12.6m development features 16 individual food and retail units, a double-sided bar, and a large flexible events space which is capable of holding a variety of events. The first phase of the internal work begin in February. The installation of the bench seating on the lower floor and booth style seating on the mezzanine floor is complete. More seating is scheduled to be installed during this phase of the fit out. Integral plumbing and electrical work within the hot food units is now also completed. In addition to this, the installation of the bar, stage, lighting and PA, feature wall and internal signage is currently ongoing, as well as other necessary works. The council told North Wales Live that "announcements regarding the site's operator and individual tenants will be made in the near future". Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth and Tackling Deprivation, said: 'The Queen's Market buildings have played a significant role in Rhyl's history for more than 120 years. "This new development is an exciting new chapter in the site's rich history, with this modern, multipurpose venue offering high-quality food and retail spaces for the people of Rhyl, and I am pleased to see that the internal developments are progressing well. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox "This project is an integral part of the wider regeneration work in Rhyl, which has seen significant investment in the town over the past few years. It's also encouraging to see this work starting to pay off, as we've seen a number of new businesses open in the town this year. "With the Sea Defence works set to finish this year, as well as funding that has been recently awarded by UK Government, this is an exciting time for Rhyl and Denbighshire as a whole.' It was recently announced that Rhyl would receive £20m as part of the UK Government's Plan for Neighbourhoods to tackle deprivation and turbocharge growth.
