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FUNDING BLOW
Regeneration projects miss out on £25 million of Government cash
BY ALEX CAMPBELL
alex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk
SIX bids for Government funding totalling more than £25 million earmarked for crucial regeneration schemes have been rejected. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills today snubbed six of seven bids put forward by Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for developments across the region. It raises questions over funding for several major developments expected to create thousands of jobs. The Government rejected bids for: ■ £8 million for the planned Media Place addition to the University Quarter, in Stoke; ■ £5 million towards the planned East West Precinct, in Hanley; ■ £4.7 million for the Centre of Refurbishment Excellence, a training centre being created at the former Enson Works, in Longton;
■ £4.57 million to invest in energy efficiency technology for the pottery industry; ■ £3 million towards the first phase of the proposed Central Business District (CBD), in Hanley; ■ An undisclosed sum towards a fifth innovation centre at Keele University, creating more than 100 jobs. But Stafford-based Alstom Power is in line to receive a seven-figure sum for future growth, creating thousands of jobs. Also approved is an undisclosed sum for the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, which is in talks with Denby Pottery over plans to safeguard the future of Middleport Pottery. LEP officials say some of the bids could be resubmitted as part of a second round of bidding which started today. About £450 million has been allocated nationally through today’s Regional Growth Fund allocations, leaving almost £1 billion in the pot. And Bentley Motors, in Crewe, will receive
almost £1.7 million for staff training, to prepare workers for predicted growth. Staffordshire County Council leader Philip Atkins, a LEP board member, said: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to get a couple through. The bids had to go in very quickly. “There is another round of bidding. Now is the time to refocus on what we want to do and keep going. “All of the bids are sound in their own way, but there is a limited amount of funding – only £450 million granted with bids worth well over £2 billion.” Alison Knight, assistant director for enterprise and skills at Stoke-onTrent City Council, pictured, said: “We are obviously disappointed that the city has only been awarded a small part of the fund in this initial phase. “However, the LEP has attracted significant funding to the region. “All of these bids were to accelerate or expand existing projects. These projects will continue to develop with the funding that is secure.”
The bids made were for a fraction of the sums available under the axed regional development agency system, where cash was distributed by a local quango. MPs were today divided over the growth fund’s success. Labour’s Stoke South MP Rob Flello said: “It was always going to be massively oversubscribed. It’s not surprising that so few have been approved – it’s just another sign that the areas that have the greatest need are being overlooked.” Staffordshire Moorlands’ Conservative MP Karen Bradley said: “Obviously I want as much of the money as possible to come to North Staffordshire. “However, North Staffs did get two out of the five projects that were successful in the whole of the West Midlands.” The second round of bids closes in July with an announcement on the winners in the autumn. Pet shop makes way for CBD: Page 4 Keele plan set for go-ahead: Page 13
VISION: An artist’s impression of the East West Precinct which has lost out on £5 million of funding.
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