Rotherham and Goldthorpe amongst local towns to receive regeneration boost

Rotherham and Goldthorpe are two of 15 towns in Yorkshire set to receive a share of £80m to boost regeneration.

The announcement from the government says this initial scheme is part of a £3.6 billion investment programme to level up England’s towns in the wake of Covid-19.

The scheme will see 101 towns across the country including Rotherham, Goldthorpe and Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire to receive funding ranging from £500,000 to £1 million, that can be used to support projects that will impact the area such by creating new green spaces, pedestrian & cycling areas and creating community hubs.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “It will give towns the opportunity to drive economic growth and improve prospects for their communities, which will be vital as the country respond to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“These funds are part of the overall £3.6 billion Towns Fund money allocated –  with this initial pot shared out now to get some projects off the ground and give local areas the boost they need.

The Chamber of Commerce has for several months been involved in discussions and negotiations working towards town deals for both Rotherham and in Barnsley focussing on Goldthorpe. These plans set out a vision and a strategy for the towns and build on the government’s commitment to taking both funding and decisions away from Whitehall, investing in the growth of local economies and devolving decision making