£75m package to create 16,000 Shropshire jobs
A major £75 million funding package aimed at creating thousands of jobs and homes for Shropshire was being rubber-stamped by the Government today.
The Marches LEP landed the cash as part of the government's Growth Deal, and Greg Clark, the Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, was due at the Harper Adams University to sign off the funding.
It is hoped that the package will ultimately boost the economy and help to create 16,000 jobs, and encourage the construction of 9,000 homes.
Mr Clark was being joined at the official signing event by the leaders of the three councils that are covered by the LEP – Kuldip Sahota of Telford & Wrekin, Keith Barrow of Shropshire, and Herefordshire's Tony Johnson.
Also present was LEP chairman Graham Wynn, who said: "The LEP is moving from a role focused on the development of strategies and plans, to one focused on delivering change for the good of the whole Marches economy.
"With that in mind, the signing of our £75m Growth Deal marks a major milestone as we seek to move forward with key infrastructure projects that will pave the way for the creation of thousands of jobs and homes for the people of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire." After bidding for around £102 million to support 14 projects around the region, the LEP ultimately landed £75 million, which will be used to inject life into seven infrastructure projects which are ready and waiting for work to get going.
Each of the schemes is aimed at making the surrounding land accessible for private investment, such as on the T54 site in eastern Telford.
Around £5.2 million has been allocated to open up the "eastern gateway" to Telford, including an overhaul of Junction 4 of the M54. Six other junctions around Telford, at Trench Lock, Clock Tower, Shawbirch, Ketley Brook, Limekiln and Randlay, are also lined up for an overhaul using a £10.4 million boost as part of the Growth Deal.
A similar £10 million shake-up of the road system is also earmarked for Shrewsbury, using £2.43 million of the Government pot, which will affect parking, signage, and upgrades to six junctions on the town's inner ring road.
Money will be made available to help build the Oxon Link Road – clearing a major hurdle that could eventually bring about the building of the long-awaited western bypass.
