How can the Darwen Town Deal money be spent?

It’s been widely publicised that £25 million of funding was made available as part of the Government’s Town Deal fund.

While residents may have lots of really good ideas about how it could be best spent, it’s important to know that Government guidelines are in place outlining what the Town Deal must be used for.

These rules had to be closely followed to ensure that as much of the funding as possible was secured by the board on behalf of residents.

The board have been incredibly successful in their bid and secured the maximum amount available.

The Government says that the money needs to be spent on projects that will improve the local economy and regenerate the area.

This includes things like new buildings and developments, new facilities and infrastructure – such as key roads, gateways and digital connectivity.

The funding isn’t really designed for community projects as such, but £750,000 has been made available for initiatives that residents have said are important, including restoring the iconic Darwen Tower.

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Under the Town Deal guidelines, the investment plan needs to focus on four clear themes:

  • Town centre and development
  • Culture, arts and sports
  • Enterprise and skills
  • Connectivity (transport and digital)

Groups of experts, all with links to the town, are looking at strong proposals that best fit the themes.

Stay up to date with the latest happenings by checking out our timeline here:

Timeline