It could get bigger
Changes to the boundary of the Nelson Town Deal regeneration scheme are being proposed to enable firms at business and industrial sites outside the official zone to potentially apply for grants of up to £100,000.
Brierfield’s Northlight scheme is an ongoing £32million regeneration of a landmark mill which was home to Smith & Nephew for many years. The mixed-use regeneration scheme of homes and commercial space by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was praised by Pendle councillors earlier this year – but some also raised worries that nearby Brierfield town centre was not yet seeing benefits from the investment.
As part of a two-year programme, individual manufacturing businesses within the current official town deal zone may be able to apply for resilience-and-growth grants of up to £100,000, if they are eligible. But that could be extended in the second year to the wider buffer zone. Regarding the official Nelson Town Deal zone and additional locations outside, the committee report adds: “The location of some of the premises reflects the fact Nelson is a former mill town, where industry often sits alongside housing in old mills.
A committee report states the reason for the recommendations are: “That highly-appropriate businesses on the edge of the existing Nelson Town Deal boundary do not lose-out on the opportunities offered by the town deal grants, where they will provide benefits to the town’s economy and that Nelson benefits from the inclusion of these businesses.”
TOWN DEAL REPRESENTATIVES Nelson Town Deal Board has representatives from public sector, business, education and community sectors.