A highlight this month was the Town Deal Board approving its first business case for Town Deal funding, having received a draft for review the previous month. The Youth and Retraining Pledge aims to increase skills and life opportunities for young people across the area, raising aspirations, and inspiring the next generation.
Activities will be focused on helping young people engage in learning or employment and will bring together a range of provision in the town. The project will now be submitted to the government for decision.
The Board also received the draft Public Realm business case for consideration. The business case, which has been shaped by the findings of previous Vision King’s Lynn consultation, will deliver public realm improvements along a key route from the rail station to the river.
The project will help to increase footfall into the town, improve the accessibility and attractiveness of key sites on the route, and improve the perception of the place by residents, visitors, and businesses.
Ideas for the project will be shared with the public when engagement is carried out in January. Jemma Curtis, who has developed the business case for the project with Vicky Etheridge of King’s Lynn BID, emphasised the collaborative approach of the working group supporting the public realm proposals.
Both the Youth and Retraining Pledge and the Public Realm are ‘fast track’ projects meaning their business cases can be submitted to government within a shorter time frame and funding is anticipated to be released by government to start delivery of these schemes in 2022.
An update was given on the School of Nursing Studies with David Pomfret, Principal of the College of West Anglia, outlining how the new school had been described as: “the most advanced training facility in a UK college.” He added: “We will have a fantastic facility on our doorsteps.”
The first cohort of students will be starting in January at Anglia Ruskin University’s Peterborough site and will move into the new school later in the spring when accreditation is confirmed from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
David Pomfret also described how there has been some significant interest in the school already from the local community, with the School of Nursing Studies inspiring the local community for career opportunities in nursing. Carly West-Burnham of the QEH commented: “This is a great example of collaborative working which will enable us to work with our local community to build a strong and sustainable nursing workforce for the future.”
Michael Baldwin, Vice-Chair of the Town Deal Board and Chair of the Guildhall Complex Advisory Group also gave an update on the stakeholder sessions that have taken place around St George’s Guildhall. These are helping to shape the activity plan for the business plan for the site which is under development.
A more detailed update on the Community Renewal Funding was shared, and it was highlighted that Norfolk had the most projects approved in any county. Vince Muspratt, Director of Growth and Development with Norfolk County Council commented: “Securing £6M is a fantastic achievement and represents a great example of collaboration.
Finally, an update on communications and engagement was provided, including around the Multi-User Community Hub consultation which has seen over 300 responses received to date.
Upcoming activities in the new year include a young people’s workshop taking place online from 6pm – 7.30pm on Wednesday 19 January 2022.
The workshop will look at themes from the young people survey and invite ideas and thoughts from attendees. Anyone who is interested in attending can get in touch via our contact page