Ambitious £20m bid to regenerate Forest of Dean
The bid hopes to improve leisure, community and education opportunities
A bid for £20m of Government funding for projects in the Forest of Dean is an opportunity to regenerate the area without spoiling it, says district council leader Tim Gwilliam.
Details have been released this week for the bid to the Levelling Up Fund which is being pulled together by Forest of Dean District Council, Hartpury University and Hartpury College and Cinderford Town Council.
If successful the bid aims to improve leisure and community facilities, introduce new further and higher education opportunities, repurpose vacant buildings and grow the local economy across the Forest.
The bid package will consist of a £9m investment at the Five Acres site, bringing new leisure and sports facilities and flexible community space to the area including a satellite facility for Hartpury University and Hartpury College.
There is also a new £10m university innovation, careers and enterprise learning centre planned for Hartpury University and Hartpury College and an £880k building refurbishment programme in Cinderford town centre.
Councillor Gwilliam said they have formed a strong partnership which is only the beginning of their ambitions to improve the district.
Cllr Gwilliam added: "“Whereas before we’ve been banging heads with each other, this time it’s different,”
"“This time we’ve got Coleford looking at what Cinderford is doing and saying what you are doing sounds good and we would like to emulate that.
“We’ve learnt the lessons of the past where we’ve failed because we’ve gone out on our own.
“We need to shout our own corner a bit more and I think we’ve learnt to do that. I fully believe we can regenerate the Forest without spoiling it.”
The three projects would also provide new jobs and new education opportunities, encourage cohesive communities and help people stay active and healthy through great new sports and leisure facilities.
Across all three sites the partnership says there is a real focus on reaching net-zero carbon through the installation of electric vehicle and bike charging points, the use of solar power and by encouraging sustainable travel.
It is anticipated that the combined bid would bring over 30 new jobs to the area and provide the facilities needed for new businesses to grow in the Forest, bringing with them additional jobs and opportunities for local residents.
The flagship University Innovation, Careers and Enterprise Learning Centre, which would be built on the current Hartpury University and Hartpury College site, would support the growth in student numbers, providing new opportunities to over 16’s in the Forest.
The centre would focus on encouraging and supporting local young people to stay in education or start their own business in the area.