On the 1st July 2020 the Chief Executive received notification in writing that Boston Borough Council, through the Towns Fund has been selected to receive £750,000 in accelerated grant funding to support capital projects that will drive jobs growth, create further investment and the ability to look to build a stronger and more resilient economy for all our communities. The Government reiterated the agenda to ‘level up’ and that the government recognises the Towns Fund is one vehicle that clearly supports local areas to realise and nurture their own ambitions to level up. We had to bring forward capital projects that respond to immediate challenges and support the economic recovery including the repurposing empty commercial buildings, open space infrastructure – parks and green space, improvements to the town centre and where an immediate benefit can be achieved. Considerable consideration was be given to those projects that can facilitate and deliver sustained growth and return the maximum economic Benefit to Cost Ratio (BCR) for all of our communities in the shortest amount of time. Again, any project should be in a position to move quickly as this capital funding is only available for this financial year 2020/21 and it must be spent by 31st March 2021. It is also becoming clear that government will be looking more closely at funding projects that will deliver economic returns in the shortest amount of time. The following projects have been approved by the Homes Community and Local Government department of government.
Haven High Academy – 3G Pitch Development Project
Haven High Academy are applying to the Football Foundation for funding towards a full size floodlit 3G Football Turf Pitch on the site in Marian Road, Boston. Alongside this, the school need to identify additional capital funding to ensure the project is viable. The school is an 11-16 secondary school with academy status and is the only secondary school within the eight schools of the Boston Witham Academies Federation. Haven High Academy currently has 1172 pupils on roll. The Federation prides itself on working in partnership to enhance the life experiences and chances of all the children and young people who come through our doors. The academy are looking to develop their facilities not only to support their students but to provide opportunities for the local community groups to continue to access high quality facilities on their site. The new 3G artificial pitch will complement the existing facilities on site and promote the academy as the hub of the local community. Haven High have already shown they can manage and maintain facilities to a high standard and have a clear approach to being a hub for the local area. During early consultation on the #MyTown campaign as part of the Boston Town Deal, there was a significant amount of public support for increased sports facilities in the Town, specifically 3G and 4G pitches. Boston has one of the lowest provisions in the county. The cost for a full size flood 3G pitch is in the region of £750,000 (including professional fees and contingency). The school will be using part of their capital reserves towards the project but will also be looking for other funding to contribute to the partnership funding required. The school hope to apply to the Football Foundation for a large contribution towards the cost of the pitch but need to explore all other funding opportunities.
Boston College Digital, Transport and Logistics Academy
The Academy is due for completion for November 2020, Boston College’s Digital, Transport and Logistics Academy (the DTLA) is proposed to introduce new courses that will provide skills training for Lincolnshire’s established logistics and transportation industry with a focus on digital innovation and technologies for the future. The DTLA’s facilities will include a transport workshop, computer rooms, a network and hardware computer room and a student break-out space. This will continue to build upon the success of the Engineering, Manufacturing and Technology centre (EMAT). The logistics and transport industry provide approximately 40,000 jobs in the South East of Lincolnshire and is a key area of focus, together with the Port of Boston, in the emerging Boston Town Investment Plan. As part of the work of the Town Deal Board, there is ongoing consultation with the logistics industry and the Port of Boston. This valuable engagement includes working with employers to map the current and future provision to meet skills needs, both locally and nationally, to ensure that the facilities implemented and courses delivered are relevant to the employment opportunities available and enable industries to continue to grow and develop. As a result of this engagement, Boston College has identified the essential equipment required and this will accelerate the support for skills and employment not just for our young people but also adult learners, many who may need to retrain as a consequence of the impact of Covid19 on the employment market. The acquisition of the equipment and services would enable the full completion of the DTLA. The DTLA project is GLLEP funded and destined to support the skills acquisition within the key sector of ports and logistics.
Boston Town Heritage Projects
The Boston Townscape Heritage Project will significantly enhance the eastern area of the town’s historic market place for the benefit of local businesses, the local community and visitors to the town. Boston’s rich and unique historic environment, dating from the medieval period to the 20th century, will be explored, celebrated and conserved through a scheme of capital works and an innovative activity programme. The project has been developed through a partnership between Boston Borough Council and Heritage Lincolnshire which aims to build upon the momentum gained from recent heritage led regeneration initiatives in the town through a previous Historic England supported Partnership Scheme in Conservation Areas and will also work collaboratively with other local partners on activities relating to the Hanse League membership and Mayflower 2020. The project to date has successfully bid for match funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Lincolnshire County Council and is now putting forward a bid for match funding to the Accelerator Fund as part of the Boston Town Deal, to enable the capital elements of the project to be realised in full. The scheme area includes the eastern boundary of the market place, Dolphin Lane and Pump Square and individual buildings eligible for grant funding have been identified. Work already undertaken on the project by Heritage Lincolnshire and the Borough Council with local businesses, has resulted in the first three buildings within it, at a point that they ready to be renovated, subject to funding, and be completed by the end of this financial year (2020/21). Lincolnshire County Council is also in the process of developing its highway development project for the Lane to also be delivered this financial year Detailed below are the three individual projects the bid to the Accelerator Fund.
16 Market Place – Has been granted listed building consent and planning permission. It has been out to tender and is currently awaiting a final tender return.
17 Market Place – Planning permissions have been granted, the tender process is also complete and the project is currently awaiting a grant offer so works can proceed on site.
8 Dolphin Lane – Planning permissions have been granted and it is currently out to tender. Publicity and Promotion for all of the above to include the Accelerator Fund and the Boston Town Deal within the wider project funding partnership.
Experience Boston: Travel, Trade and Influence
With the wealth of assets as a quintessential and visually stunning Historic Market Town and Port Boston is uniquely poised to build on increased local, regional, national and international profile as a quality historic and cultural visitor destination, bringing all the wider benefits to local and visitor economies as well as driving increased opportunities for investment. The project will enhance our cultural infrastructure to engage and share more effectively these stories as well as Boston’s historic trade and maritime associations, and the influence the town has had locally and internationally. Critically it will also orientate users to the wider retail offer of the town and give opportunity for fuller engagement with its businesses. The project will develop physical interpretation and heritage resources that are focussed on the historic environment of the town and its culture. It will also importantly build on reinforcing the placebrand of the town and orientating people through mapping solutions to the cultural and retail opportunities the town has to offer. This also having a the effect of continuing momentum in the investment and delivery of initiatives in the town which has seen a consistently upward trajectory of improvement and enhancement making it a more compelling destination to consider making a home and place to work and invest. ‘Experience Boston’ will provide long term benefit within the public realm. There is significant opportunity to add to current public realm improvements within Boston, helping inform locals and visitors alike to Boston’s rich Heritage. This builds on the placebrand, wayfinding and design toolkit developed in the successful HLF project ‘Boston: Explore and Discover’. That project was the catalyst for a number of continuing improvements in both the public realm and the visual identity of the town. The project, through its physical legacy will continue to enhance the offer of the town both as a heritage destination and also as a place to live and work in. The successful ‘Boston: Explore and Discover’ project acted as a catalyst for continued improvement and the council has invested in the town and the public realm as well as embedding the placebrand throughout the town. The town is now ready for a second phase of investment to expand the interpretative schemes and maximise engagement with the town’s heritage and local and visitor economies.
PE21 Feasibility Funding
Boston Borough Council commissioned AR Urbanism to undertake a master planning excise on a 10-acre under-utilised town centre location to maximise the economic potential working closely with both the public and private sectors. This catalyst place-led regeneration scheme looks to influence real economic benefits, health & well-being and social value opportunities for generations to come. There are specific sector opportunities identified within the PE21 masterplan that can harness more value added services include a new Well-being and Leisure facility, Transport Hub, hotel, work and learning provision as well as residential and extra care facilities. However, to test and underpin the interventions, recommendations and the viability of the PE21 Master plan and more recently market demand post Covid-19, a feasibility study needs commissioning to fully understand the sustainable and economic potential the PE21 vision can deliver. The report will consider current and projected future uses and market demands, which will ensure a more robust assessment on uses, values and deliverability to enable a better and clearer policy on approach and opportunity.