Important infrastructure projects in Greater Lincolnshire are becoming a reality thanks to funds secured through the area’s first ever Growth Deal, which was signed a year ago today (21st October).
Local Growth Minister Penny Mordaunt MP visited Lincoln on 21st October 2014 to sign the Government’s Growth Deal with the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Six major schemes were awarded funding for 2015/16 and six more pipeline projects were identified for 2016/17. A further five schemes benefited from an additional Growth Deal allocation in January 2015, bringing total investment by 2021 to £146.2m.
Many of the schemes are already under way, enabling the development of thousands of news homes, creating new jobs, supporting local businesses and strengthening local infrastructure.
Bishop Burton College received funding in the first Growth Deal and has begun developing phase two of its Riseholme College's Showground Campus outside Lincoln, establishing bespoke new facilities to help grow the key agriculture sector for the future.
The £11.5m project was granted £7.5m of Growth Deal funds and will fund a state-of-the-art food and agri-food technology centre, a precision agriculture centre, a health and nutrition centre and a sports and health science centre.
“Tremendous progress is being made on the precision technology workshop extension and groundworks have commenced on the remainder of the site,” said Jeanette Dawson OBE, Principal of Bishop Burton College. “We anticipate the new campus being fully operational by the end of 2017.”
Mark Tinsley, and Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s Food Board, commented: “This project will create an exciting range of new learning opportunities for people looking to study and work across agri-food in our area. It will also provide local businesses with the people and skills they need to grow, create new jobs and access new market opportunities across the world.
“The Riseholme Campus will keep Greater Lincolnshire at the forefront in the development of new skills and innovative technologies in the agri-food sector and its many associated industries.”
Another transformational project is being delivered on the evolving Lincoln Science and Innovation Park. Demolition work began earlier this month to make way for the Boole Technology Centre which will create combined laboratory, workshop and office space for innovative, technically focused SMEs.
The centre will complement existing developments already in place on the first phase of the science park, such as the Joseph Banks Laboratories and Think Tank, and contribute to Greater Lincolnshire's Enterprise Zone aspirations.
Ursula Lidbetter, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “It is now a full year since we signed our first Growth Deal with Government, which provided funds for six important schemes in 2015/16 while identifying a further six pipeline projects for 2016/17.
“We are pleased with the proactive and collaborative approach being taken to progress growth across the area, and we remain committed to playing our part in increasing productivity and economic prosperity.”
For more information about Greater Lincolnshire’s Growth Deal funding click here.
