Wonderful news for Ashbourne*GREAT NEWS*! The £15-million transformation of Ashbourne town centre will start this year after government today approved an exciting Levelling Up Fund bid."Ashbourne Reborn", led by Derbyshire Dales District Council, was developed through close working with local partners who brought forward project ideas, identified opportunities and raised match-funding for the bid.The partners include Ashbourne Town Team, Ashbourne Town Council, AshCom, Ashbourne Methodist Church and Derbyshire County Council.News that the bid – submitted to government at the end of July – has been approved means partners can develop more detailed plans for the two-year development project focused on three distinct project areas.The first is a series of transformed public spaces including Market Place, Victoria Square, Millennium Square and Shrovetide Walk, while the second project focuses on a new community hub, transforming the Methodist Church into a multi-purpose community building. The hub will provide a wide range of event and meeting spaces, a performance venue and flexible work areas with high quality digital provision.New traffic management plans will transform the pedestrian experience in Ashbourne by widening footways and providing new and improved crossings as part of the third project.District Council Leader Councillor Garry Purdy said: "This is fantastic news and we can all look forward to transformed spaces in which events and activities can take place, bringing a much needed vibrancy – and indeed footfall - back to the town."This will be the biggest capital grant project ever undertaken by this council and I want to thank all partners for getting Ashbourne Reborn to this exciting stage where we can start to restore pride of place and create a new safe and vibrant heart of the town for the benefit of local people and visitors."There is much work to do, not least through the planning process, even before the first brick is laid and I want to stress this project will remain a partnership – that is absolutely vital."The project will get underway with the formation of a programme board to be chaired by District Council Chief executive Paul Wilson, and the appointment of a programme manager.A key part of the project is to celebrate the town's heritage. A wide variety of future events will bring new life to the centre of Ashbourne, creating an environment where businesses will want to locate and invest, and residents and visitors spend time whilst supporting the local economy.Read more, including statements from all the project partners 
http://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/.../3735-green-light...
Government has announced that a decision on the planned £15-million transformation of Ashbourne town centre is likely to be announced at the end of January 2023.
"Ashbourne Reborn", led by Derbyshire Dales District Council, was developed through close working with local partners who brought forward project ideas, identified opportunities and raised match-funding for the bid.
The exciting Levelling Up Fund bid was submitted at the end of July this year and partners include Ashbourne Town Team, Ashbourne Town Council, AshCom, Ashbourne Methodist Church and Derbyshire County Council.
