A scheme designed to drive investment and guide regeneration across towns in North Yorkshire to benefit hundreds of thousands of residents has reached a significant milestone.
A total of 32 towns and key centres are set to benefit from £1.2 million of funding through the Town Investment Plans programme. The plans will be used as part of a co-ordinated approach to identifying local priorities and directing future investment.
Each plan will provide a clear framework setting out an area’s strengths, challenges and key priorities, which will be used to target and allocate future funding effectively.
Engagement events across North Yorkshire have been gathering views from residents, stakeholders and local businesses.
The first draft plan, focusing on Richmond, has now been drawn up and is set for consultation, marking a key milestone in the programme. The remaining 31 plans are due to follow in the coming months.
Our executive member for open to business, Councillor Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include economic development and regeneration, said: “As England’s largest county covering more than 3,000 square miles, we know our market town areas are incredibly diverse, each with their own distinctive character, strengths and heritage.
“While every town is unique, we believe that many will share the same issues and challenges. These plans will help us clearly identify priorities for investment and highlight where there are shared opportunities across different areas.
“Crucially, the plans are being shaped through direct engagement with the communities who know their areas best. By working together, we can look at the right opportunities and ensure future funding is used where it will have the greatest impact.
“I’m delighted that the first plan has now been developed which lays out the biggest challenges and most exciting opportunities facing Richmond over the next five to 10 years. I would encourage everyone living and working in the town to take a look and share your thoughts.”
The draft plan for Richmond identifies a number of priority areas for future investment, including the regeneration of Market Place, exploring a five-year plan to develop a year-round programme of cultural events, and redeveloping the former Grammar School to bring it back into community use.
It also highlights key themes reflected across much of North Yorkshire, including the need to respond to an ageing population, attract and retain young people through higher-skilled job opportunities, and improve parking provision to encourage visitors to stay for longer.
Two consultation events have been organised to allow residents and businesses to consider the draft plan, which is available to view on the website.
They will be held in Richmond’s Market Place from 10am to 3pm on Wednesday 27 May and at Market Hall from 10am to 3pm on Thursday 28 May. People are invited to drop-in at their convenience.
Richmond is the first town investment plan to reach the draft phase. It has been funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which has committed £1.2 million to supporting the development of plans for each of the 32 locations.
The 32 towns and key centres identified for plans represent 376,431 residents, 61 per cent of the county’s population.
David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “The people who live in our towns and villages know what their areas need, so we are putting them at the heart of deciding what they want to see improve in their areas.
"Working closely with North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, we're setting out the first community-led plans for our towns, cities, and villages right across York and North Yorkshire.
“This is about taking those local ambitions and having a pipeline of projects to make more people proud of the place they call home.”
The programme is running in the 32 locations of Bedale, Bentham, Boroughbridge, Catterick Garrison and Colburn, Easingwold, Eastfield and Cayton, Filey, Grassington and Threshfield, Harrogate, Hawes, Helmsley, Ingleton, Kirkbymoorside, Knaresborough, Leyburn, Malton and Norton, Masham, Northallerton, Pateley Bridge, Pickering, Richmond, Ripon, Scarborough, Selby, Settle, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Skipton, South Craven, Stokesley, Tadcaster, Thirsk and Whitby.
For more information about the Town Investment Plans and to view the live consultations, visit our Town Investment Plans page.