Newhaven's £5m Government Cash Injection Welcomed, But Falls Short Of Requested Amount

Tuesday, 29 December 2020 13:54

By John Warburton @Warblefly

Newhaven, aerial view (Photo: Wikipedia user Snowmanradio / Creative Commons)

Lewes District Council's leader wants to know why the funding, from public money set aside for high street regeneration, is more than £2m short of the budget requested.

The council's bid, called "Re-Imagining Newhaven" was an approach to the government to make use of funding "to renew the country's high streets".

According to district councillors, their bid focused on re-purposing derelict and under-used buildings, as well as better integrating, diversifying and strengthening the town centre.

The intended purpose, the council said, was to offer a wider range of services for residents, as well as to attract those working or visiting the town to spend more money locally to help build community wealth.

A sum of £5,004,939 has been allocated.

Councillor James MacCleary, Leader of Lewes District Council and ward councillor for Newhaven South, said:

"I'm obviously pleased that the town where I live is set to receive this funding.

"It will allow us to kickstart some really important change in the town and create yet more momentum behind the longer-term regeneration that is now well underway.

"However, I am firmly of the belief that our superb bid to the government deserved the full £7.2m we were asking for, nothing less.

"Clearly, the decision makers in Westminster thought differently and I will read with great interest the reasons that they felt our town wasn't worth the full amount."

The town was designated as an Enterprise Zone in 2017, and is also the subject of other bidding from the government's "Towns Fund" for up to £25m further investment.

Councillor MacCleary added:

"This has been a long process and it's important to say that the initial bid was submitted by the previous administration at the council so it's important to reflect that this is an achievement for the District Council as a whole.

"A great deal of work has been undertaken to reach this point and now more hard work begins as we accelerate the preparatory steps needed in advance of spades in the ground."