Marches LEP agrees project funding

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has agreed funding allocations for projects which are being supported by the LEP’s latest Growth Deal with Government announced today.
Organisations and partners behind the projects have welcomed news of the funding boost, with figures announced today the minimum levels of expected investment via the Growth Deal and further funding may still be
secured towards the projects in coming months.
They are as follows:

• £8m – The New Model in Technology and Engineering university, Herefordshire
• £6.36 – Newport Innovation and Enterprise Package, Newport, Telford & Wrekin
• £2.82 – Centre for Cyber Security, Rotherwas, Herefordshire
• £2.75m – Investing in Our Future Workforce, Marches-wide skills project
• £1.9m – Redevelopment of the Flaxmill, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

The Marches LEP, which includes the local authorities of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, secured £21.9m in the third round of the Government’s Growth Deals.
Graham Wynn OBE, Chairman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, said:

“We want to create high quality jobs and the economic conditions for businesses to flourish – this funding will help us do exactly that.
Investment in developing a highly skilled workforce will help our businesses to grow, inspire them to innovate and in turn, create even more jobs.


“Working with our local authority partners in Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin, we have a strong track record in delivering schemes which really make a difference to the lives of people who live and work here. We’re looking forward to meeting in the coming weeks to decide on funding and progress with these new projects.”
The Partnership held a Board Meeting on Tuesday and voted through initial project allocations for the five projects.
Councillor Shaun Davies, Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council which put forward the Newport bid, said:

“This is more great news for the borough and the region and will create a crucial employment site in the Newport area which will give a real boost to business and employment in the town and for the agri-tech sector the site will serve.

“This is another significant investment by the council into Newport. Last year we took on the Audley Avenue Enterprise Park ensuring its remains for business use, keeping hundreds of jobs in Newport. We now
want to begin work on this new site in 2018/19 and bring employment land forward as quickly as possible.”

Councillor Tony Johnson, leader of Herefordshire Council, said:

“I am delighted that the county’s ambitious plans to continue improving its  business and education sectors has been recognised by the government.
The substantial investment we will receive will not only deliver a wonderful new university, but will ensure we’re able to grow our own talent right here in Herefordshire. We will be able to attract even more new business investment into the county, demonstrating that Herefordshire really is a great place to invest for the future.”

Councillor Malcolm Pate, Leader of Shropshire Council said:

“Shropshire Council is committed to work in partnership with Historic England and the Friends of Flaxmill Maltings to bring this internationally important industrial heritage site back to life. We’re delighted that Marches LEP has recognised the importance of the site and awarded this funding towards the site’s redevelopment.”