Almost £50million is being pumped into 19 “shovel ready” projects in the South West to boost the pandemic recovery.
The region’s share of the Government’s £900million Getting Building Fund for England will go to schemes ranging from the space sector to renewable energy, infrastructure, food manufacture, and “green”housing.
They include: a geothermal lithium recovery pilot plant near Redruth and a space institute and factory at Goonhilly Earth Station on the Lizard, in Cornwall; a watersports centre in Ilfracombe in North Devon, a regeneration scheme outside Plymouth railway station, a boost for the Torquay Gateway transport improvement scheme, and new centre at Exeter Science Park helping-start-up businesses.
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Business leaders said the investment would aid the recovery and help reinvigorate and grow the economy.
Tim Jones, chair of the South West Business Council,said: “This is a list of old faithfuls, and very exciting new projects which will help some of our more challenged communities.”
The housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: “As we get Britain building we are also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery by investing in vital infrastructure for local communities,creating jobs and building environmentally-friendly homes.
“This Government is determined to level up all parts of the country.”
Earlier this summer, the Government invited Loca lEnterprise Partnerships (LEPs) – the public-private sector bodies –to put forward bids to the Getting Building Fund for projects that could bring rapid benefits under three headings: work hubs and fit out, retrofit and low carbon, and other individual schemes.
Twelve projects in the Heart of the South West (HoSW) LEP, that covers Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset will get £35.4million from the fund.
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Karl Tucker, chair of the HofSW LEP, welcomed the boost to start new projects and accelerator others.
“This economic stimulus will help our plans to restart, revitalise and grow our economy. Each of the projects will support growth of the local economy and deliver the LEP’s aims,” he said.
The£14.3million for seven schemes in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly would support £59millon worth of projects and 1,100 jobs, the LEP said.
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Mark Duddridge, chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, said the schemes combined world-leading innovation such as lithium extraction for batteries and space data analytics and advanced manufacturing, with new investment to accelerate growth in our renewable energy, agri-food, creative, and aerospace sectors, and investment in a new skills centre for young people.
“Our economy has been one of the hardest hit by coronavirus and we will continue to work with government for more devolved funding so Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly can play a national role in the economic recovery,” he said.
St Austell and Newquay MP Steve Double said: “It is very good news. These projects will make a very significant contribution to the economy of Cornwall. It is welcome that the benefit is spread across the county.”
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Labour MP Luke Pollard said: “On the face of it, Plymouth has done well out of the pot but this does not reversethe cuts in investment that we have seen over the last few years.
“Every extra pound coming into the South West is welcome but we need to be getting more – we need our fair share of funding.”
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The£14.3million Getting Building Fund share for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will attract a further £44.6million of public and private sector match funding, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)says.
The projects include Europe’s first geothermal lithium recovery pilot plant near Redruth to extract lithium for use in batteries.
Jeremy Wrathall, Founder and chief executive of Cornish Lithium,said: “We believe that Cornwall has the potential to become the‘battery metals hub’ for the 海角视频, thus continuing a 4,000 yearhistory of metal production and industrial innovation.”
The other project are:
A space institute and manufacturing facility at Goonhilly Earth Station;
Investment in the Hall for Cornwall;
Expansion of the Saputo Dairy 海角视频 creamery in Davidstow;
A new science, technology, engineering and maths skills centre in Bodmin;
New workspace at Cornwall Airport Newquay;
A Cornwall-wide project to retrofit 600 social homes with renewable energy technology.
The 12 projects in the Heart of the South West (HoSW LEP) area covering Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset include an Exeter Science Park“grow-out building”.
The three-storey, net zero-carbon,complex combining flexible office and laboratory spaces to help start-ups grow and thrive will get £5million.
The Enhancementof Future Skills Centre at Exeter Airport will get £1million.
The former Flybe Training Academy will provide a range of advanced engineering, green jobs and wider business skills and training, led by Exeter College.
Simon Jupp, the Conservative MP for East Devon, said: “This is a huge boost for East Devon which recognises that we live in a great place to invest in people.”
The other HoSW area schemes that will receive funding are:
Torquay Gateway;
Concourse Phase 2, Brunel Plaza, Plymouth;
Firepooland Taunton Station Access;
Ilfracombe WatersportsCentre;
Burrows Centre, Torridge;
Exeter Bus Station;
Taunton Digital Innovation Centre;
Welding Centres of Excellence, Plymouth;
Green Housing and Business Programme;
Work Hubs and Fit-out project.