Lynn's £24m expansion bid
LYNN could benefit from a £24 million cash injection after the borough council renewed its fight for extra Government funding.
West Norfolk Council pulled out all the stops to get its application completed and lodged by midday on Monday to be in with a chance of receiving the money.
If the application is successful, the town will gain Growth Point status and as such become eligible for extra help and support to pursue large-scale expansion of the town, including new housing.
An earlier bid was turned down, but council leaders refused to take no for an answer and jumped at the chance to try again when the Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government invited them to submit another application this time around.
Council leader Nick Daubney said: “Along with Norfolk County Council and the West Norfolk Partnership, we have remained committed to our vision for Lynn and its potential for planned growth which respects the fantastic heritage assets of the town.
“The towns acts as a very important regional centre for a rural area that extends beyond the boundaries of West Norfolk. We have continued to lobby the Government for recognition of that role and this latest invitation suggests that our efforts have not been in vain.”
The council is already seeking money to develop 7,000 new homes in the Lynn area and has produced an in-depth plan supporting its application requesting just over 24 million to complete the development by 2025.
Mr Daubney said even if the bid was not successful the growth plans, including the new houses, would go ahead with other streams of funding being explored.
Mr John Norton, head of regeneration, said: “This has been an immense challenge for all involved. Norwich, Thetford and other growth points in the Eastern region have a year to work up their plans. We have had to draw together a coherent and cohesive plan in a matter of weeks.
“The fact we have met that deadline is testimony not only to the hard work and dedication of the officers involved, but also to the strong partnership arrangements we have in place, delivering nationally-recognised projects such as the Nar Ouse Regeneration Area (NORA) and the detailed plans already set out in documents such as the King’s Lynn Urban Development Strategy.”
The 24 million would be used to improve the town’s infrastructure – including its transport links, drainage and utilities – which will allow the expansion to take place.
It would be used, for example, to minimise the impact of traffic generated by major developments such as NORA, by improving public transport, cycle routes and pedestrian access.
Other costs covered by the money include the purchase of land, the provision of community facilities and detailed flood-risk studies, and the extension of the Hardwick Industrial Estate, which will create job opportunities and free-up brownfield sites which could be used for housing.
Final decisions on funding allocations are expected towards the end of the year.
daisy.wallage@
lynnnews.co.uk
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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