Budget Update -The UK Government announced on 30th October 2024 that the UK Long term Plan for Towns Programme was to be retained and reformed as part of a new regeneration programme.
Coleraine Town Hall
As part of the Government’s Review of Spending, the UK Government announced on 30th October 2024 that the UK Long term Plan for Towns Programme was to be retained and reformed as part of a new regeneration programme.
In formal correspondence to Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, the UK government advised that a revised prospectus for the programme will be published in due course. This will confirm the associated timelines and a new set of strategic objectives aligned to the Government’s missions, with Coleraine still set to receive up to £20 million of funding and support over the next ten years.
Background
In April 2024, it was announced in the budget that Coleraine would receive £20M in as part of the UK Government's Long Term Plan for Towns Funding for projects that will be delivered over the next ten years.
The funding will be used for projects and interventions around three key themes:
- safety and security;
- high streets, heritage and regeneration, and
- transport and connectivity.
The Government has stipulated that 75% of the funding must be allocated to capital projects, with 25% allocated against revenue projects.
Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council will be the Accountable body for managing and administering the funding and is working to establish a new CFTF Board and coordinate a programme of community engagement and public consultation.
The town board will have an independent chair and as per Government Guidelines representatives of the following must be included on the Town Board:
- Other tiers of Local Government (where applicable)
- The Parliamentary Representative (MP) for the area
- Elected representatives from the Council
- A senior representative from the Police
- Community partners (such as community groups and charities)
- Local businesses and social enterprises
- Cultural, arts, heritage and sports organisations
- Public agencies and Anchor institutions (such as educational institutions)
The CFTF Board will be charged with the preparation of a Long-Term Plan for Coleraine - specifically a 10-year vision and 3-year investment plan. At the heart of the funding and the development of the 10 year long-term vision and initial three-year investment plan is the local community, and local people will be invited to have their say on what they see as key priorities for Coleraine and how the money should be spent. The 10 year Investment Plan and 3 year Action Plan are required to be submitted to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.