Torbay’s MP, Kevin Foster, has welcomed news of a further £150,000 funding boost to regeneration work in Torquay Town Centre, as part of a wider £2.3m package of funding for councils across Devon.
The Devon and Torbay One Public Estate Partnership - made up of Devon County Council, Exeter City Council, Torbay Council and Torridge District Council - has received £330,000 of One Public Estate (OPE) funding and £2,017,568 from the Land Release Fund.
The OPE programme aims to support councils to deliver initiatives which create economic growth through unlocking land for new homes and jobs; providing new opportunities to save on running costs or generating income funding; or transforming services. As part of a wider package for Devon it has awarded £150,000 to the Transforming Torbay to fund feasibility studies, masterplanning and project management as part of work to regenerate Torquay Town Centre.
In addition to supporting wider regeneration work it will also fund a bid to understand new ways in which primary care and other health services can be delivered in Torbay, identifying assets which can be released for housing or employment uses. This includes developing a business case for solar farms to generate energy, reducing costs to the health services and driving forward Torbay Council’s climate change strategy.
The funding is in addition to the £21.9m of support being provided by the government for the Torquay Town Deal.
Kevin Foster MP said: “Regenerating our Town Centres is a key priority. I am therefore delighted to see this latest support from the Government for regeneration work in Torquay Town Centre. The Town Centre of the future will be different to the past, so looking at how additional health services could be provided as part of it is especially welcome. The level of funding being offered to support the revitalisation of our Town Centres by the government is unprecedented and will make a visible difference.”
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