In November 2019, the Ministry of Homes, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced that Scarborough and Whitby had been identified as two of 101 towns in England that they wish to work with to develop Town Investment Plans and bid for a share of the Government’s £3.6bn Towns Fund.
A Town Deal board for each town, made up of representatives from different local organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors, was set up to consider proposals, develop Town Investment Plans and ensure both Whitby and Scarborough submitted a bid to the Government’s Towns Fund by autumn 2020.
Following 10 months of engagement and analysis, a Town Investment Plan (TIP) for each town was created, backed by their respective Town Deal boards, to help deliver long term economic growth and make a significant contribution towards Building a Better Borough, the council’s recently announced programme to deliver better outcomes for communities throughout the Borough of Scarborough.
The TIPs cover themes such as skills and enterprise, cultural activities, the environment, connectivity, well-being and sustainability. It is hoped that the package of ideas will also help the towns recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
On the 3 March 2021, Government announced that Scarborough had been successful in securing £20.2m of Town Deal funding, and Whitby £17.1m of Town Deal funding in support of delivering the respective TIPs.
- Scarborough Town Investment Plan (PDF, 8.5MB)
- Whitby Town Investment Plan (PDF, 7MB)
The following projects from the TIPs were chosen to be delivered as part of the Town Deals;
Scarborough
- Green Construction Skills Village
- Fablab
- Improving Scarborough Cricket Club
- Scarborough Fair
- Scarborough Harbour West Pier Regeneration
- Scarborough Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure (Cinder Track Improvements)
- Scarborough Nature Tourism (Wild Eye)
- Scarborough Station Gateway
Whitby
- Broomfields Farm Zero Carbon Living
- Eastside Community Hub
- Old Town Hall and Market Place
- Harbourside public realm improvements and pedestrianisation of Whitby Swingbridge
- Wayfinding and Gamification
- Whitby Maritime Training Hub
Latest news
Scarborough Borough Council has appointed contractors to help deliver Station Gateway and Fablab Towns Deal projects.
Tilbury Douglas have been appointed for the two stage design and build contract for Station Gateway Public Realm project creating a stunning public square and highway improvements.
Wilmott Dixon (WD) has been appointed to develop Fablab and Pavilion House providing new employment opportunities and a digital industry hub. They will be developing the concept and spatial designs for the project.
Where possible both projects will use local construction companies, material suppliers and employing local skill.
Eastside Community Centre extension receives planning permission
The plans for the extension of Eastside Community Centre at Abbots Road, Whitby were approved by Scarborough Council on 21 Jul 2022 giving the go ahead for construction to start on the second phase of the Whitby Town Deal project. Phase 2 includes an extension which will accommodate a community café, as well as a meeting room and a lobby and improvements to the existing building creating a more flexible space for training and community activities.
Work on phase 1, new home for Whitby Boxing Club, is already underway.
Towns Fund projects approved
The government has approved the businesses cases for fourteen transformational investment and regeneration projects in Whitby and Scarborough triggering the release of funding totalling £37.3 million.
The investment will see Scarborough receive £20.2 million and £17.1 million will go to Whitby.
This is a significant milestone in our plans to build a better borough for local communities and help deliver long-term economic growth in both towns. The projects cover key themes such as skills and enterprise, cultural activities, the environment, connectivity, well-being and sustainability.
They are designed to deliver better outcomes for residents and businesses by making town centres more vibrant and alive while building on the cultural heritage for which the borough is famous. You can rread the business cases below.
Town Deal blueprints released
You can now read the Scarborough Blueprint 2021 (PDF, 6MB) and the Whitby Blueprint 2021 (PDF, 6MB).
Government announced on the 3rd March 2021 that both Scarborough and Whitby had been successful in securing funds from the Towns Deal. Further details on this announcement can be found here.
Town Deal business cases
In order to release Towns Deal funding each project was required to produce a business case to demonstrate value for money; that the project is affordable and can be delivered. All business cases have passed through local assurance mechanisms with oversight from the Town Deal boards. The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has now approved all the projects, releasing the funding. Please see the link for the individual business cases below:
- Broomfields Farm Net Zero Living Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 7MB)
- Eastside Community Hub Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 6.5MB)
- Green Construction Skills Village Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 10MB)
- Old Town Hall and Market Place Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 1.5MB)
- Scarborough Cricket Club Redacted Full Business Case PDF, 4MB)
- Scarborough Fab Lab + Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 3MB)
- Scarborough Fair Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 2MB)
- Scarborough Harbour West Pier Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 2MB)
- Scarborough Station Gateway Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 1.7MB)
- SLCWIP_Cinder Track Connections Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 45MB)
- Whitby Maritime Training Hub Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 10.3MB)
- Whitby Swingbridge Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 3MB)
- Whitby Way Finding Redacted Full Business Case (PDF, 1.7MB)
- Wild Eye Redcated Full Business Case (PDF, 2.5MB)
Town Deal board
A Town Deal board was established for each town bringing together the private, public and voluntary sectors to provide strategic leadership to develop and deliver the respective Town Investment Plans which set out a clear understanding of the area; focusing on its assets, opportunities and challenges.
The role of each board is to:
- Oversee the delivery of their respective Town Investment Plan
- Ensure the programme of interventions within the Town Investment Plans are managed and delivered effectively
- Co-ordinate resources and engage stakeholders where required
To view the membership of the Boards and minutes from the meetings please follow the below links;