Sudbury £6m bid rejected
The Government won't be awarding Levelling Up Fund money
A £6 million bid for upgrades in Sudbury that would pave the way for future regeneration has been rejected by the Government.
Babergh District Council requested £6.36m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to upgrade bus junctions around the Hamilton Road quarter, which would then enable the revamp of the Borehamgate Shopping Centre and bus station area.
Despite being the only Suffolk bid to date for the capital schemes in the Levelling Up Fund, the request was refused by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
Councillor Michael Holt, Babergh District Council’s Conservative cabinet member for economic growth, said: “While it is disappointing we did not receive funding through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, our planned regeneration of the Hamilton Road area remains a priority for Babergh District Council.
“We are actively exploring alternative funding options and opportunities to deliver these important improvements for the benefit of the town.”
A meeting with the Government to gain feedback is expected soon, although the DLUHC confirmed that unsuccessful bidders can re-submit in future rounds.
“This government is creating more places that people are proud to call home by empowering local leaders, improving public services and regenerating our town centres and high streets,” a DLUHC spokeswoman said.
“Bids were subject to a rigorous assessment process to make sure the Levelling Up Fund delivers good value for money. Unsuccessful applicants will receive feedback and are able to try again in future rounds.”
Work on the Hamilton Road quarter featured in Sudbury’s Vision for Prosperity in 2018, which voiced aspirations for a modern facility featuring homes, a cinema, restaurants and other leisure and retail offerings.
A revised masterplan is due to be published later this year or early next year following changes to the Belle Vue Park plans – loosely linked to the Hamilton Road regeneration – after proposals for a hotel there fell though.
Ipswich bid
Meanwhile, another expected bid for the Levelling Up Fund for the Nacton Road/Ransomes roundabout in Ipswich has not actually been submitted yet, Suffolk County Council has confirmed.
Previously a £5m proposal was lodged with the Government’s Pinch Point Fund, before that pot of money was scrapped and replaced by the Levelling Up Fund.
The council said it would investigate submitting a fresh bid to the new fund, centred around improving the junction with pedestrian crossing upgrades and capacity solutions, but has confirmed it was not developed significantly enough to submit a bid this time around.
A council spokesman confirmed it was awaiting details for the next round of bids to see whether it would be appropriate then.
However, the county was successful in securing £945,000 funding for two schemes under the Community Renewal Fund branch of Levelling Up cash.
That was awarded to Enabling Self-Employment (£412,208) to deliver support for unemployed people or those previously on furlough in disadvantaged communities, while Suffolk Road to Net Zero received £533,766 to offer grants for businesses to develop low-carbon measures.