Town Deal Board members were delighted to hear today’s Government announcements, that King’s Lynn’s Town Deal Board had been allocated the maximum amount of £25 million to press ahead with a range of projects. Graham Purkins, Chief Technical Officer of Merxin, and Chair of the Town Deal Board, said: “We are delighted to receive notification that our King’s Lynn’s Town Investment Plan submission has been successful. “The collaborative working between the Town Deal Board and borough council in conjunction with valuable and constructive engagement with the local community enabled us to submit a strong proposal through which we have secured the maximum possible amount of funding. This is a significant achievement, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and commitment that has made it possible. “Last year we received a smaller amount through the Accelerated Towns Deal Funding which has enabled us to start improvements to our town centre and the initiation of a new School of Nursing in partnership with the QE hospital and the College of West Anglia. We are already making a difference. “Receiving the Towns Fund money will now enable us to start the process of delivering the broader range of projects identified in our plan and help us all work towards a brighter and more prosperous future for King’s Lynn.” The projects are split into four general themes: – economic productivity through urban regeneration, planning and land use; skills and enterprise; and infrastructure and connectivity.
Michael Baldwin, President of West Norfolk Chamber Council and member of the Town Deal Board said: “This is very welcome news for King’s Lynn, we are looking forward to working with the Town Deal Board and the wider business community to deliver some fantastic improvements to King’s Lynn that will help boost the local economy.”
Cllr Stuart Dark MBE, Leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk and borough’s lead representative on the Town Deal Board, added: “This announcement is really great news for the town, as it brings significant external investment to a range of priority projects that combine to deliver major improvement. All the projects submitted in the bid were developed through consultation with the public and engagement with stakeholders and local businesses through the Town Deal Board we established as part of the required process. “I am delighted that central government has recognised the need for this funding in King’s Lynn and can see, through the strength of our bid and board, the clear benefit that can be realised here. “We are awaiting the exact details of the next steps but are so pleased the exciting work of bringing the projects to fruition with partners, in consultation with stakeholders and the wider community, can now begin to start in earnest. Commenting on today’s announcement from the government’s Towns Fund, James Wild MP, said: “I’m delighted to have helped secure this major investment to boost skills, improve the town centre, promote our strong Shakespeare links and heritage, and support new and growing businesses. “With funding already secured for a new School of Nursing Studies, North West Norfolk is really benefitting from the government’s commitment to spread opportunity and level up. “I now look forward to helping deliver these ambitious plans as part of the Towns Fund board and making Lynn an even better place to live, work, and visit.” Further details about the Town Investment Plan and Town Deal Fund projects can be viewed at www.visionkingslynn.co.uk
