Benoy, as a local Newark business, is proud to support the Newark Towns Fund Board submission which aims to secure up to £25 million funding as part of the UK Government’s Towns Fund initiative.
Newark’s ‘Town Investment Plan’ has been developed by a dedicated Newark Towns Fund Board and sets out ambitious plans for regenerating the town centre, boosting business and improving infrastructure. Thirty projects have been outlined in total, with some marked as priority, which will span the next 30 years.
Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the Newark Towns Fund Board, which comprises more than 40 private and public businesses and bodies, has been working hard, consulting with residents and businesses to put forward transformative solutions that not only address Newark’s challenges and residents’ needs but go well beyond them.
Proposals address issues faced by many UK towns, including retail decline, decreasing footfall in the town centre, skill shortages, low wages, and a lack of new residential and family entertainment.
Tom Cartledge, Co-Chair of the Towns Fund Bid and CEO of Benoy parent company Handley House commented: ‘It’s been a privilege to listen, learn, think and create a wide-reaching ambitious plan for Newark. As a resident and an employer I too understand the town’s challenges and with it the opportunities and I look forward to transitioning the bid from a set of plans to clear deliverables”
The priority projects identified for Newark are:
• An International Air Space and Training Institute to create new jobs locally and nationally in aviation
• A Construction College to create educational pathways into innovative construction while upskilling local people
• A Smart Innovation, Supply Chain and Logistics Enterprise zone to create a centre of excellence with regional and national significance
• YMCA Newark and Sherwood Community and Activity Village – an inclusive establishment capable of providing the population of Newark with access to learning, leisure sports, skills, early careers and general wellbeing activities
• Transforming Newark into a town which embraces cycling, walking, public transport and enhancing green routes
• The Castle Gate House project – enhancing the experience of Newark’s foremost historical asset
• Newark Heart — a three-step approach to reviewing and developing the entire town offer by establishing its voice and a calendar of events
• Repurposing the town centre retail estate to increase residential premises and reduce rents and rates to retail units
• Reappraising the public estate to better apply resource to personnel rather than premises
Putting the heart back into our communities — see Design Thinking blog post by Handley House CEO Tom Cartledge.
