Council to bid for funding for major projects in Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Craven Arms

Major regneration projects in three Shropshire towns are set to take a huge step forward with the submission of funding bids to government.

The clearance of the Riverside area of Shrewsbury, a new roundabout and railway bridge on the A49 at Craven Arms, and a new skate park for Oswestry are all covered by grant applications being drawn up by Shropshire Council.

The bids are being made to the first round of the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund, which was announced last year to bring forward transport, regeneration and culture projects across the country.

The authority’s cabinet will be asked at a meeting next month to sign off the pitches for submission.

In Shrewsbury, the money will fund demolition work and site preparation as part of the Smithfield Riverside Strategic Development Framework.

A report to cabinet by Mark Barrow, director of place, says: “These interventions will stimulate growth through the provision of new public realm and infrastructure that will increase town centre footfall, enhance and support the visitor economy, strengthen economic activity and stimulate developer confidence and appetite in bringing forward Shrewsbury’s most significant riverside regeneration site.”

There will also be improvements to the town centre, including pavement widening, traffic calming and wayfinding.

The bid for Craven Arms is to fund a huge scheme of works including a new roundabout on the A49, a road bridge over the railway line, and spine roads and utility provision on key employment sites.

The report says: “This supports the planned growth of Craven Arms through accelerating the delivery of infrastructure to unlock the allocated local plan housing and employment growth on the northern edge of the town.

“This will enable sites within the town centre to be redeveloped for more appropriate town centre uses including housing.”

Meanwhile the third bid will go towards a “package of projects” in two areas of Oswestry – the town centre and Mile End.

Funds will go towards supporting the “regeneration and recovery” of the town centre, making physical improvements to help boost footfall, and supporting businesses to stimulate economic growth.

The report says: “Current projects under consideration include public realm improvements on Church Street and Cross Street, extending capital grants available to re-purpose underused buildings in the town, support new activities and facilities at the library, and develop new co-working business spaces within council owned assets.

“These proposals complement existing activities and schemes such as the High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme.”

At Mile End, money will be spent on preparing the planned housing and business sites and development of a new skate park.

“These proposals will be complemented by existing works to improve the
road network and proposed improvements to walking and cycling
connectivity,” the report says.

“The combined interventions will stimulate growth, support businesses through the provision of new business space, increase town centre footfall to support the turnover of existing businesses and the visitor economy, and support improvement to walking and cycling infrastructure.

“These improvements are not standalone projects, but build on current part of a wider strategy to improve the town supported by existing activities and public/private investment already secured.”

If any of the bids are successful, work will start in the current financial year.

Mr Barrow’s report adds that the council hopes to submit further bids to future rounds of Levelling Up funding, but that the three proposed for the first round were considered to have the highest chance of success.

It says: “The timescale for the submission of bids is extremely tight and they must be made by 18 June 2021 at 12pm.

“In effect this along with other set criteria mean that these first round submissions have to be based upon existing projects that already have a degree of project planning already completed.

“The three bids, which are being put forward in this first round of levelling up funding need to meet the key objectives of the funding and critically can show spend in 21/22.

“Officers understand that other areas may have projects that they wish to be considered for future rounds of funding and these will be captured as well as those ideas and projects which could be looked at for any further rounds of Levelling Up or future prosperity funding.”

The report will be considered by cabinet at a meeting on Monday, June 7.