Display gives people chance to find out more about Loughborough Town Deal

Published: Tue 12th March, 2024

Residents can find out more about Loughborough Town Deal at an exhibition being held between Thursday, March 21 and Saturday, March 23.

The event at Loughborough Town Hall will showcase the 11 projects being backed by the Town Deal which will boost skills, regenerate the town, and support the visitor economy.

The projects are worth more than £40 million of investment and were developed after Loughborough secured £16.9 million from the Government's Towns Fund.

Already over £14 million of that investment has been delivered as several projects have been completed.

Information and displays about the Town Deal-backed schemes will be available at the Town Hall between 10am-3pm each day and a member of staff will be on hand to answer questions for most of that time.

The 11 projects are:

  • The creation of a Digital Skills Hub at Loughborough College
  • The Generator project will see a derelict building converted into a creative arts and culture hub. This is being led by the Generator Community Interest Company.
  • The Healthy and Innovative Loughborough project being led by Loughborough University has already seen the expansion of SportPark. It also supports business innovation, is empowering local people to develop healthier lifestyles and is looking to improve transport connectivity in town. An Impact Hub will also analyse the town's health to plan for future improvements.
  • The Living Loughborough project which aims to make the town centre a more attractive and secure place. Several elements of this initiative by Charnwood Borough Council and Love Loughborough have already been implemented including the expansion of free wi-fi in the town centre, the creation of an augmented reality heritage trail and the introduction of free business support for local businesses.
  • The Lanes and Links scheme will better link the town centre and Queen's Park and see the creation of a structure to mark the impact of Covid on the community. It is being led by the borough council.
  • The Riverside Regeneration project has seen two kilometres of canal towpath through the heart of Loughborough improved by the Canal & River Trust
  • A flood scheme for Loughborough's Wood Brook is planned and being led by the Environment Agency
  • Saving the Last Major BellFoundry in the UK is a project to preserve and enhance John Taylor & Co Bellfoundry – the only one of its kind in the UK. This is being led by the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust and is also supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
  • Great Central Railway is also being supported.
  • The Bedford Square Gateway project, led by the borough council, has seen the regeneration of part of the town centre. This scheme has been completed.
  • The Careers and Enterprise Hub opened in 2021 and provides people of all ages with resources and guidance for skill development and business startups. It is a collaboration between Loughborough College and Loughborough University, backed by Charnwood Borough Council.

Martin Traynor OBE, the newly appointed Chair of the Town Deal Board, said: “The Town Deal projects are being successfully delivered by a variety of organisations and businesses who are doing an amazing job for Loughborough. Our Delivering the Deal exhibition will give local people the opportunity to find out more about these important projects.

“The exhibition builds on the other communications channels we are using, such as social media and the Town Deal website, and comes after we held a successful briefing for local businesses and organisations. 

“We hope that local people will come along to the Town Hall to find out more about the Town Deal and what it is delivering for Loughborough.”

The Delivering the Deal display is at Loughborough Town Hall, Market Place, Loughborough, between 10am and 3pm on Thursday March 21, Friday March 22 and Saturday March 23. Officers from Charnwood Borough Council will be available during some of those times.

To find out more about the Loughborough Town Deal projects, visit the Town Deal website.

The Town Deal Board involves representatives from Charnwood Borough Council, Loughborough University, Loughborough College, Love Loughborough, Leicestershire County Council, the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, Charnwood Together Economy and Skills Group, local businesses, and Loughborough MP Jane Hunt.