Plans sent to the government’s Levelling Up Fund include a new hub in Weston Favell and a cancer centre
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Plans for a new cancer centre at Northampton General Hospital and a new hub in Weston Favell are part of a huge bid worth over £60 million submitted to the government by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC). Other projects include a wellbeing hub at Delapre Abbey and a new unit at Moulton College.
Two separate bids worth a total of £63.5m were submitted to the government's Levelling Up Fund by WNC last week. The second round of LUF investment was announced in March as part of the Chancellor's Spring Statement, designed to "invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK."
The first bid, worth £20m, is for the £45.1 million regeneration of the centre of Weston Favell, of which WNC has agreed to provide the remaining £25.1 million. The second bid totals £18.4 million and would be used for the establishment of cancer care centre at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) and a a new animal welfare unit at Moulton College.
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Plans for the Weston Favell redevelopment were revealed in July. They include a new swimming pool, cinema, library, and a new home for health and social services.
In June WNC consolidated "several outdated community buildings"Lings Forum leisure centre, Weston Favell health centre, Olympus House, the Forum and Weston Favell Library. If the application to the LUF is successful, these buildings would be demolished and replaced with the brand new campus of community buildings.
Councillors have agreed to support the regeneration of deprived area with with £25.1 million of funds. But on condition that the application for £20 million from the LUF is successful.
Details of the second bid, worth £18.4m, have only recently been announced. It is made of three separate projects at Delapre Abbey, NGH, and Moulton College.
Part of the money would be used to build a cancer care centre at NGH to provide third sector support to the Integrated Care System with an evidence-based programme of psychological, social and practical support to patients and their families. The LUF funding will be matched with £1.1 million from the charity Maggie’s.
The new Maggie’s centre will support cancer patients and their friends/families to deal with the psychological and practical impacts of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. In Northamptonshire, over 4,000 people receive a cancer diagnosis every year, and 50 per cent of the 880,000 residents expect to be diagnosed in their lifetime.
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Dame Laura Lee DBE, Maggie’s Chief Executive said: “Maggie’s Northampton will be a purpose built centre next to Northampton General Hospital’s oncology unit. From a beautiful and relaxing environment, Maggie’s will offer a programme of psychological, social and practical support for people with cancer and their families and friends."
The restoration of 19th century stables at Delapré Abbey in Northampton will create a wellbeing hub including a walking/cycling hub, creative arts, social prescribing, physiotherapists and an innovative kitchen classroom space. The LUF money will be matched funded by the Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust (DAPT) with £1.1 million.
WNC hopes the hub will create a wellbeing hub that increases access, awareness, education, empowerment, knowledge, and control over decisions about health – both physical and psychological. Delapre and Far Cotton are one of the most deprived areas in the country.
Richard Clinton Chief Executive of the DAPT said: “The Abbey originally existed to support the wellbeing of the Northamptonshire community over 900 years ago. We are hopeful that this step will help to ensure that the Abbey can build upon that purpose, and for many years to come.
"We are thankful for the opportunity to be included alongside a fantastic range of projects as part of this Levelling Up bid and we are grateful to the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the Architectural Heritage Fund for the early project support, enabling the project to be considered as part of the proposals put forward by West Northamptonshire Council."
£8.6 million would to to building a new animal welfare unit at Moulton College, replacing the existing, outdated facilities with a new animal welfare training centre, allowing the college to deliver high quality education whilst increasing capacity and expanding training opportunities in both animal welfare and construction.
The new unit would allow new courses and greater capacity to support the growth of the workforce in key sectors. It is hoped to create more pathways to employment for students of all backgrounds.
Corrie Harris, Principal and CEO of Moulton College said: “We are delighted that our ambitious plans to transform our Animal Welfare Training Centre and Construction workshops are part of the LUF bid by West Northamptonshire Council. These projects have the potential to make a big difference to the many young people and adults who want to gain the skills and knowledge they need for a career in these sectors."
Cllr Dan Lister, WNC’s Cabinet Member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth, said: “These projects enable a shared approach to tackling our local challenges and maximising benefits. For example, Delapré Abbey’s Life Kitchen will support patients accessing Maggie’s, and Moulton College’s construction students will gain experience through Delapré’s renovations, developing specific heritage construction skills against a severe national shortage.
"The diversity of the projects provides multiple access points and interventions; improving community participation, creating new jobs and fostering pride in place– ultimately delivering measurable improvements to the quality of life for residents and supporting economic growth."
The Government is expected to announce successful LUF bids before the end of 2022.
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