Three towns in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have been announced as being in line for a multi-million-pound cash boost a part of the Government’s flagship Towns Deal Programme.

Ashfield (£62.6m), Long Eaton (£24.8m) and Stapleford (£21.1m) are part of twenty-six new town deals in England that will share over £610 million to boost local economies, create jobs and help towns build back better from the pandemic.

The Deals will help breathe new life into neglected areas or unused buildings by creating vibrant spaces for businesses, community events or much needed new homes. Today’s announcement means that seven Towns Deals have now been agreed in the region – totalling nearly £200m investment in communities across D2N2.

D2N2 CEO, Sajeeda Rose, said: “I am pleased to see Government’s latest commitment to invest within the East Midlands. The funding will address long term structural challenges within our towns, which will support wider economic growth across the region leading to more productive, prosperous, and inclusive communities”

Ashfield

The £62m funding, the highest of any areas in the country to receive funding in today’s announcement, will see huge investment spread across Sutton and Kirkby. The investment focuses on four areas: business and education; health and wellbeing; boosting the visitor economy; and making Ashfield greener.

Matthew Relf, Cabinet Member for Place, Planning and Regeneration at Ashfield District Council, said: “This is fantastic news for Sutton, Kirkby, the whole of Ashfield and the wider region.

“I am very proud of the ambitious bid that we put together and this funding, together with the £6.27m secured from Future High Streets for Sutton town centre provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to make a real and long lasting change in the area.”

Long Eaton

The 24.8m funding will be spent on initiatives around the town. They include changes to modernise the town’s High Street to bring it up to date with the Market Place, which was recently redesigned. Other improvement include road and cyle routes, and new business and leisure areas.

Councillor Carol Hart, the Leader of Erewash Borough Council, said: ”The magnitude of winning this funding is impossible to put into words. This news is fantastic and a testament to the hard work already put in – all with the help, of course, of local people and our business community. I am thrilled for Long Eaton and its residents.”

Stapleford

The £21.1m funding Stapleford will used to create a “reinvigorated” town centre, with sustainable new businesses and job creation tied to the green economy. The plans also include new sports and community facilities, an improved cycle network and strong connections to the nearby HS2 hub at Toton.

Chair of the Stapleford Town Deal Executive Board, Ian Jowett said: “Stapleford has always been a town with big potential so it’s fantastic that the hard work of so many local businesses, organisations and residents has paid off in securing this once in a lifetime funding for the town. This really is Stapleford’s time to shine as part of a prosperous new future for generations to come.”