Derbyshire town secures almost £25m for major makeover

Long Eaton has won £24.8 million of government cash to help fund a major makeover of the town over the next decade.

It is one of 26 around England to receive a share of £610 million from the Towns Fund to help boost their economies.

The projects outlined in Long Eaton’s bid – which with match funding amount to some £30 million – have been developed through consultation with local residents and businesses.

The list of improvements include:

• Layout changes at The Green, a town centre traffic congestion hotspot – including relocating bus bays and restricting certain vehicle movements.

• Improvements to the High Street, including moving the market back to its historical Market Place site, a no vehicle access except for permit holders and new paving and planting.

• Turning the former Box Office cinema, which is now derelict, into a cultural hub, featuring a café, gallery, and auditorium for performance, film screenings, conferences and other arts-related social events.

• Redevelopment of the disused former Galaxy cinema on the edge of the town centre on Derby Road by turning it into a four-storey residential building aimed at young professionals.

• Transforming the Grade II* listed Stable Block at the rear of Long Eaton Town Hall into affordable small business units.

• Proposals to upgrade the cycle and walking network, including improvements to the Broad Street Bridge between West Park and the town centre; a new bridge over the canal at Britannia Road; and lighting along the cycle route through West Park.

• Creation of a ‘West Park Waterfront’ alongside the Erewash Canal including moorings for commercial boats providing food and drink with seating allowing visitors to enjoy the waterside environment; and improvement of facilities at West Park to allow high quality events to be held.

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The successful bid was put together by the multi-agency Long Eaton Town Deal Board, chaired by Richard Ledger.

He said: “The funding will ensure we can now move forward into an exciting future for Long Eaton with the innovative projects we have generated.

“I am delighted the Government has recognised our ambitions and my thanks go out to everyone involved in helping us seize this opportunity.

“Much hard work now lies ahead over the next 10 years to deliver the projects we have put forward – but let’s bring it on!”

Councillor Carol Hart, leader of Erewash Borough Council, said: “The magnitude of winning this funding is impossible to put into words.

“This news is fantastic and a testament to the hard work already put in – all with the help, of course, of local people and our business community. I am thrilled for Long Eaton and its residents.”

Maggie Throup, MP for Long Eaton, said: “This £24.8 million is fantastic news for the residents and businesses of Long Eaton and represents the largest investment in regeneration that our town has ever seen.

“This award follows a tremendous amount of hard work by a dedicated group of volunteers, councillors and council officers and I was proud to be part of the bid.”