Corby Council approves investment plan which could see new town centre college

An investment plan which could unlock £25m of funding and may see a new town centre college open has been given the go-ahead by Corby Council.

The town was among 101 places which were last year named eligible for the Towns Fund by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

The pot, worth up to £25m to each area depending on which projects are given the go-ahead, is designed to stimulate regeneration and drive long-term economic growth.

As reported last month Corby's Town Investment Plan (TIP), prepared by the Town Deal Board, had four projects shortlisted, including:

- A sixth form centre at Chisholm House in Queen’s Square using £9.5m from the towns fund and £10.1m of private funding. This project will accommodate 537 young people by 2025/26 based in the heart of the town centre.

- A multi-use space at the green space next to the Anne Street car park including retirement flats and a large community, youth and arts space. This had previously been earmarked for a Market Walk shopping extension. It will cost about £3.34m.

- A safe pedestrian and cycle route between the train station and the town centre along Oakley Road using £11.7m from the fund and £800,000 from S106 developer funds.

- The use of new technology to help monitor flows of pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, shoppers and visitors to help understand how to attract new green and ‘smart’ investors to the town. This will cost £405,000.

The plan has now been approved by Corby Council’s One Corby Policy Committee. It will now be submitted to the MHCLG for approval and business cases will have to be drawn up.

Leader of Corby Council, Cllr Tom Beattie, said: "We are very pleased to have approved Corby’s Town Investment Plan which aims to build on the successful regeneration delivered in Corby through public and private sector partnerships over the past decade.

"The foundations of the developed vision for Corby has been put together through extensive consultation, ranging from virtual workshops and one-to-one meetings, a market research survey covering over 400 residents, business and community sub-committee groups, as well as digital platforms, so it is exciting to see the result of all of the feedback come together and clear priorities brought forward."

The council says that once the document has been submitted to MHCLG and agreed, the TIP will be published.

Lorna Dodge, chair of the Corby Town Board, said: "It has been a very interesting and productive year being a part of the board to develop and approve Corby’s Town Investment Plan. A total of four key projects have been submitted within the plan to secure the funding of £25 million. These projects build on the vision to regenerate Corby, commenced twenty years ago, and will support the future regeneration of Corby."