Town funding of £24 Million approved

Transformative investment plans for Stocksbridge have been approved by the Government, with over £24million of funding set to be delivered to the town.

The announcement was made as part of the last week's Budget, when Chancellor Rishi Sunak gave the go ahead to the Stockbridge Town Deal. It will fund a comprehensive package of measures to level up the town and surrounding area and deliver new opportunities for local people. In particular it focuses on improving local connectivity, supporting healthier lifestyles, opening up access to education and training, and promoting sustainability.

A Town Investment Plan was created by the Stocksbridge Town Deal Board based on a public consultation that took place last autumn. The Board brought together members from the local community, businesses, elected representatives, and local authorities. It is co-chaired by the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, Miriam Cates, and Mark Dransfield, the managing director of Dransfield Properties Ltd, working alongside a team from Sheffield City Council.

Among the projects that will now receive funding are a new post-16 education hub at Stocksbridge High School, redevelopment of public spaces on Manchester Road, new sports facilities at Oxley Park, improvements to walking and cycling trails along the Little Don River, investment in Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre, and a new local bus network to serve Stocksbridge, Deepcar, and surrounding villages.

It is anticipated that the investment will help to attract new jobs and businesses to the town, with some of the money being spent on providing new commercial and community space on the site of the current library.

Commenting on the announcement, Miriam Cates MP said "I'm absolutely delighted that the Chancellor has approved our Town Deal. This is a major investment and clear vote of confidence in our area. Most importantly it gives us the chance to build a better future for the whole community.

"I would like to thank everyone who has been part of the Town Deal project and has helped to achieve this fantastic result. We must now focus on delivering a programme that can be truly transformative for Stocksbridge, Deepcar, and the surrounding area.

"The Town Deal offers the targeted investment that Stocksbridge so desperately needs. It will regenerate our local economy, upskill our workforce and provide the conditions to grow for the future."

Mark Dransfield said: "Stocksbridge has often felt like a forgotten part of the wider region so to achieve this level of funding for the town is absolutely great news and testament to the hard work and determination of all the board members, as well as the team of officers at Sheffield City Council.

"Everyone has worked hard through an incredibly tough year to deliver a bid which will bring a real transformation to our community and we look forward now to working on the next stage and making our towns fund projects a reality."