The Government has announced that it is investing £16.6 million for Dorset infrastructure.
Funds have been awarded for projects in Poole, East Dorset, Gillingham, Weymouth and Portland via the Housing Infrastructure Fund, a government capital grant programme which aims to help the delivery of over 200,000 homes in England.
Lorna Carver, Director Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership said: “Dorset LEP is delighted at the outcome of these bids and that government is investing £16.6 million for key infrastructure development in Dorset. This is a significant investment by the government and highlights the good work that is going on across the county to achieve our economic aspirations. Good infrastructure is vital for enterprise and this funding will help to facilitate local economic growth by creating the right conditions for more highly skilled jobs and housing in Dorset.”
North Dorset District Council, West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council have been successful in bringing in over £8m worth of funding for housing Infrastructure projects in Chickerell, Portland and Gillingham. The councils have recently launched ‘Opening Doors’, an ambitious programme to tackle the housing crisis in the area with a target of 20,000 new homes by 2033.
Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, Leader of North Dorset District Council, said:
“It’s fantastic news that £4,064,250 has been awarded for the Gillingham Southern Area Extension. The funding will go towards significant infrastructure such as utilities and improved road networks.
“This funding will aid the delivery of over 1800 homes in an extremely important development site allocated in our local plan.”
Borough of Poole was awarded £6 million in support of its vision to regenerate and transform the town centre.
A new leisure centre and swimming pool, bus station, hotel, commercial office space and more than 400 new homes could be built as part of a £134 million regeneration project.
Cllr Ian Potter, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Borough of Poole, said: “The council is ambitious for Poole and Town Centre North is our flagship project for regenerating the town centre. It will transform our town centre, boost the local economy and make it a vibrant and attractive place where people will want to live, work and enjoy their free time.
“We’re delighted to receive £6 million through the Housing Infrastructure Fund. The bidding process is highly competitive so to secure this funding demonstrates confidence in Poole’s ability to make this project a reality.”
Image: Cllr Graham Carr-Jones (North Dorset District Council), Cllr Gill Taylor (Weymouth & Portland Borough Council ) and Cllr Tim Yarker (West Dorset District Council) at the launch of the Opening Doors Initiative