Eccles town centre is set to receive £5.4 million funding from the Budget.
The funding is set to transform Eccles into a town of heritage to eat, meet, play and live in.
The project is one of the Capital Regeneration Projects announced by the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, as part of the Levelling Up Partnerships, which plans to provide more than £200 million in regeneration projects for 16 of England’s ‘left-behind places’.
This funding comes after Eccles was turned down for levelling up funding in 2022, despite Salford’s townships not receiving national funding from government to date.
Eccles narrowly missed out on support last year, but the proposal to reinvigorate the town centre has now been assessed as a high-quality plan and will benefit from the same level of funding that was previously bid for.
The regeneration will be a joint development between Salford City Council, residents, local businesses and stakeholders. The purchasing of Eccles Town Centre by the council was the first step in the process.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “It’s no secret that in recent years, Eccles, like many other town centres up and down the county has faced decline. So, today’s announcement in the Spring Budget is welcome and much-needed funding for the city. However, it was also much-needed funding last year and as a team, we were extremely disappointed that Eccles did not receive essential levelling up funding in 2022.
“We have always been committed to delivering real, impactful change in Eccles town centre and we have a plan that we are consulting on and will be implementing. This started with our purchase of Eccles Shopping Centre and continues through our engagement with the community, local businesses and stakeholders, whilst also seizing the moment to raise awar
eness of the future of Eccles town centre through our time at MIPIM.
“This is long-overdue funding and I’m glad the town centre is now getting the support it badly needs. It is right that the needs of Eccles and its residents and local businesses have been re-evaluated under the new Capital Regeneration Projects initiative. I’d like to thank the team at the council behind our initial proposal for their dedication and hard work and for not giving up on our commitment to get Eccles the support it rightly deserves.”
Salford, along with 15 other regeneration projects, has been assessed as ‘high-quality’, meaning work will begin later this year. Each project is under £10 million, ensuring quick delivery.
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