Marches LEP backs £36m bids
Bids totalling more than £36m are being backed by the Marches LEP to receive a portion of the government’s regional growth fund (RGF). The projects could create upwards of 3,000 private sector jobs for the region, estimates the LEP board.
They are among the first bids submitted from organisations across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire aiming to secure investment from the £1.4bn RGF.
Projects seeking funding include a £5.8m bid to develop a Centre of Excellence for Food and Drink in the Marches. This would be created by extending the existing Shropshire Food Enterprise Centre and creating an associated centre at Hereford.
The LEP is also supporting a bid for £2.5m to upgrade the electricity supply in Whitchurch and a private bid for £2.m from Enterprise HQ in Coalport.
Other projects include a £1.1m bid to develop a marina and wetland nature reserve in Oswestry, along with associated commercial development and a £2.5m bid for a Centre of Excellence in Precision Farming at Harper Adams University near Newport.
A bid for £2.5m to create rural business hubs across the Marches has also been submitted.
The Hereford City Futures Growth package, which is bidding for £20m of the RGF, has also received backing from the LEP, which is chaired by Dr Geoffrey Davies.
The £20m project involves the creation of a new Link Road as part of the redevelopment of the Edgar Street Grid and relocation of businesses to various sites including Three Elms Industrial Estate and new Cattle Market at Stretton Sugwas.
Geoffrey Davies said: “We are delighted to be championing these bids for RGF funding which demonstrate the desire of both the private and public sector in the Marches to create the conditions for growth and employment.
“Only those projects which deliver large scale jobs and private sector investment, require over £1m in funding, are ready to deliver and can name the direct or downstream private sector beneficiaries can apply in this first round.”
