£40m blueprint for projects to transform Boston is revealed

A near £40m blueprint to transform Boston has been submitted to the Government.
An overview of the projectsAn overview of the projects
An overview of the projects

.The Boston Town Plan has been put together by a board made up of business leaders, councillors and other key figures in the community.

The proposals are intended to unlock a total of £25m Government funding and include a number of projects that were supported by the public during a long consultation process.

If the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government agrees to the submission, a further £13 million will be found through local match funding.

The PE21 schemeThe PE21 scheme
The PE21 scheme

The schemes include the £16m Mayflower Centre in partnership with Boston College, the £7m proposed PE21 project to regenerate Boston town centre, a £2.5m project to develop the town’s railway station, and an £8m regeneration of Shodfriars Hall.

A full meeting of Boston Borough Council agreed to back the plan last week, and it was submitted to the ministry last Friday.

The Towns Deal has seen more than 100 towns across the UK asked to bid for up to £25m for projects that would help grow their communities.

Neil Kempster, Chair of the Boston Town Deal Board, said: “In such difficult and challenging times, the Town Deal provides a fantastic opportunity to attract significant government funding to make a real difference to the local economy in Boston.

An artists impression of the Mayflower projectAn artists impression of the Mayflower project
An artists impression of the Mayflower project

“It has provided the platform for working collaboratively to kick-start economic growth and realise the undeniable potential in the area. With a particular emphasis on the skills agenda and raising the aspirations of the people of Boston, the Town Deal aims to build on the unique and historic nature of the town to deliver a better future for everyone.”

Cllr Paul Skinner, Leader of Boston Borough Council, said: “The Boston Town Deal is a carefully planned out series of community-led projects that will be transformative for the town.

“The Mayflower Centre, in particular, is something that is extraordinary for the town and should stand as inspiration for the town’s future growth.

“The Towns Fund is a catalyst for change, inspired by the people of Boston and led by community representatives, local business and supported by Boston Borough Council.

Boston Railway Station will be transformedBoston Railway Station will be transformed
Boston Railway Station will be transformed

“Boston is a beautiful town with so much potential; this funding will mark the start of a town more united and with the ability to make it happen.”

The plan gives more details of each project as well as breaking down the money sought from the Town Deal for each and the local match funding that would be found.

Here are some of the key projects, with quotes from the submitted plan about them.

Mayflower Centre

“Mayflower re-imagines the FE College, where botanical gardens provide a haven from the elements and where the whole community can find sanctuary, hope and future prosperity. The radical, biophilic Mayflower connects us with each other, with businesses, enterprise, innovation and new thinking and the natural world, providing space for the town’s economic relaunch; tackling our communities’ embedded low aspirations and skills through innovative living learning spaces enabling digital upskilling with on-hand support and tuition. Open, welcoming and nature-filled, Mayflower provides space for voluntary services, careers advice and health and wellbeing support as well as space to support skills development.”

Cost: £16.3m, with £10m from the Towns Fund.

Timescale: start in 2021 with the project of four years duration.

PE 21 Town Centre Regeneration

“This project presents an exciting and transformational opportunity to open up, improve and re-balance the relationship and connectivity between east and west side of the River Haven. Accessible routes will link the railway station (Town Fund project) to the town centre through pedestrian oriented and better designed footways, green spaces, and reduced vehicle movements with a new linear park at its heart. A vibrant and attractive place for residents and visitors will give them access to better educational facilities (Town Fund project) and help them live healthier lives. PE21 will lead to increased connectivity within the town by creating footfall and income generation through a variety of uses including a new combined health and leisure facility in partnership with NHS Lincolnshire CCG, much-needed town centre living, retail opportunities and integrated community facilities. The Towns Fund as the first stage of the project will support, a new NHS Health Centre.”

Cost: £7.25m, with £4.75m from the Towns Fund , and a target of £2.5m from NHS, local authority and market sources

Timescale: March 2021- December 2025.

Boston Railway Station

“The project will enable the delivery of a new community/retail café facility by developing the redundant unit between the ticket hall and the existing restaurant unit, providing a new welcoming hub to the centre of the station building. its former glory. The principle is to encourage travel by train through investment in the railway infrastructure. “

The scheme will be carried out in association with East Midlands Railway.

Cost £2.692m, with £2.5m from the Towns Fund

Timescale: June 2021 to September 2023.

Shodfriars Trust

“Shodfriars is Grade 2* listed and officially At Risk. We plan to preserve the medieval frontage as Phase 1, and the Victorian Hall as Phase 2. The renovated building will have a wide variety of community uses, such as performances, events, dance studio, offices and café/restaurant.”

The project will require £8.985m, with £2.075m from the Towns Fund

Timescale March 2022 to April 2024

Blenkin Memorial Hall Trust

“The repair, renovation and redevelopment of the Blenkin Memorial Hall for multi-purpose community use, to provide a building that can be used, through personal development, education, entrepreneurial space, to enrich the lives of all who use it, to encourage life-long learning; as well as providing a self-sustaining future for this key and central historic building.”

Cost: £1.146m with £810,000 from Towns Fund

Timescale: March 2021 to March 2024.

Other key projects include the Centre for Food and Fresh Produce Logistics, a £5m project looking for £2m from the Town Deal; creating a new digital radio station and media outlet for Boston at the cost of £100,000 (with £82,000 sought from the Towns Fund), and £250,000 for a pioneering Smart Homes project.

Funding of £1.8m is being sought for a £3.65m project helping to preserve and improve heritage buildings in the town centre, £230,000 for a £340,000 scheme to develop and conserve St Botolph’s medieval library and other historic artefacts as well as improving the church’s exterior and interior lighting, £300,000 for a £375,000 scheme to create a new Trinity Centre community hub, and £60,000 for an £80,000 youth ambassadors initiative.

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