Warrington’s Town Deal ambitions have been given an early boost, thanks to an accelerated £1million funding grant.
This funding, which aligns with the council’s previous bid for £25million funding through its Town Investment Plan as part of the national Town Deal initiative, will be allocated to supporting the council’s ambition to relocating the current Warrington’s Own Buses depot, off Wilderspool Causeway, in the town centre.
A key strand of the council’s Town Investment Plan and bid for funding was to deliver an all-electric bus fleet depot, which will provide the stimulus for the full electrification of a Warrington bus fleet and replace the current depot with land for sustainable housing.
Confirmation of this £1million advanced funding, therefore, provides the council with welcome support to prepare Warrington for delivering a bus fleet fit for the future, as well as modern town centre accommodation.
Council Leader, Cllr Russ Bowden, said: “I am pleased to see that our ambitions through our Town Deal work has been recognised. We have been working very closely with our business, education and political leaders across the borough to create an ambitious, yet realistic, vision for the town centre, so to receive this accelerated payment is recognition that the government agrees with our plans for Warrington.
“We have the opportunity now to begin work in our town to deliver a new all-electric bus fleet, which can play a vital role in helping us achieve our target of carbon neutrality by 2030. The prospect of being able to unlock space in the town centre at the site of the current depot, for housing for our residents is also a positive step in the continued economic growth of our town.
“Now more than ever, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we need to demonstrate our collective vision for Warrington and I am pleased that this funding is in recognition of the huge potential our town has.”
Through the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, the government has announced £80 million funding for over 100 towns, to use in this financial year.
You can read Warrington’s full Town Investment Plan online at: warrington.gov.uk/my-town
