Worcester’s MP has expressed his disappointment that two levelling up fund bids focused on the city have been rejected. The announcement of Leveling up Fund projects today has included some money for rural Worcestershire and the Malvern Hills bid has been approved but Worcester City and the bid from Worcestershire County Council relating to Shrub Hill Station as a transport hub have been rejected.
Nevertheless the previous rounds of investment including the Future High Streets Fund and the £20m Towns Deal for Worcester continue to support regeneration and development in the city and Walker has urged the councils to keep up their focus on delivery of these. He has supported suggestions from the Towns Deal Board to reallocate more of the Future High Streets Fund money towards the project of upgrading the Scala Theatre building on Angel Place and has met with ministers in the last week to press the case for this.
Last week Robin attended the opening of new homes delivered by Worcester Municipal Charities and CAB in partnership with Homes England that mark the 100th affordable property supported by the charity. He has long supported regeneration of homes above shops and around the city centre to support city centre living and these new homes, along with the hundreds that will be delivered through the Towns Fund developments at Shrub Hill and the Sheriff’s Gate development will provide more affordable and central housing in the city.
Robin has served on the board of Worcester’s Towns Deal and wrote letters of support for both the £20m Towns Fund, the £x m Future High Streets Fund and the Leveling Up bids relating to Worcester.
Commenting on the decisions today Robin said
“I confess I am deeply disappointed that two bids relating to Worcester have been rejected. I thought that the focus on active travel and improving transport connections in the County bid was particularly strong and complimentary to the investment already secured in the Shrub Hill Area. Whilst it is always disappointing to miss out in any round of investments I am glad that the more than £50m of investment secured from the Government in recent years is already making a difference.”
“It is exciting to see more homes being delivered right at the heart of our community by the likes of Worcester Municipal Charities and to see the cultural developments being backed by DCMS through the Cultural Recovery Fund at the Arches. I am looking forward to working with both councils to support the delivery of major regeneration at Shrub Hill and the plans for new Theatre for Worcester through the Future High Streets Fund. I have met with Ministers to support these proposals and I will keep on backing bids to improve our city.”