£10,000 grant to help to draw up regeneration vision for Staffordshire town

A council has successfully bid for £10,000 to research how to regenerate a Staffordshire town.

Lichfield District Council's funding bid to the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) was successful.

The money, which comes from the Towns and Local Centres Fund, will be used to fund research to understand the strengths and opportunities of Burntwood town centre and its relationship with neighbouring urban centres.

Burntwood residents, businesses and stakeholders will be asked to feed into the research, which is set to take place over the summer months.

Councillor Iain Eadie, cabinet member for investment, economic growth and tourism, said: “It is great news that the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP has provided this funding to support our district, and I am really pleased this is for the benefit of Burntwood.

“I have really enjoyed working with Burntwood Town Council and Staffordshire County Council since last May through the Burntwood Town Deal.

“Lichfield District Council has already agreed in our meetings to match fund a share of the preparation costs of looking at a Business Improvement District for Burntwood. We know BIDs can be a powerful way to directly involve local businesses in local activities and allow the business community and local authorities to work together to improve the local trading environment.

“We are also working to reclaim monies under a covenant on a local development in Burntwood that has not been progressed, with a view to using this money to drive forward business and town centre improvement.

“The funding from the GBSLEP will build an evidence base that can help us to steer future growth and regeneration projects to meet the needs of the residents of Burntwood.

“By receiving the backing of the LEP, we will be able to commit our own funds to other projects that are identified through the Burntwood Town Deal partnership.”