Wolverhampton still waiting on almost £50m in crucial Government funding
Council bosses are still waiting for crucial government funding earmarked for several major projects.
It was hoped an almost £50 million bid as part of the Government’s Towns Fund scheme would have been confirmed for Wolverhampton by the start of October but there has been no word yet from ministers.
Officials say they are not concerned by the delay and that they are now hoping the cash will be agreed this month. It is highly expected Wolverhampton will be granted the Towns Deal cash, particularly as the city was chosen by the Government for the launch of the £3.6bn Towns Fund as part of Boris Johnson’s pledge to ‘level-up’ parts of the UK.
The funding has been earmarked for major projects including the new City Centre Learning Quarter, which will become the new home of Wolverhampton College on the former Faces nightclub site, the Brewers Yard development and pedestrianisation of large parts of the city centre.
Ninder Johal, chair of the Wolverhampton Town Deal Board, believes the pandemic may be holding things up.
He said: “We should be looking for mid-October but they won’t be tied down to a date. It’s the first ever Towns Fund and we’re in with everybody else who has submitted. We’re all in the same place.
"It was launched before the pandemic so it’s probably a combination of both.
"There are bigger issues with the pandemic but it’s also the first time so they’re still trying to get their heads round it and take it forward.”
Mr Johal said he had heard nothing to concern him that the cash wouldn’t be forthcoming.
“We haven’t been told anything like that. We’ve not been told there are concerns around it,” he said.
Council chiefs are counting on the Towns Deal cash to contribute to overall funding for many key projects set to transform the city.
