A £19 million bid for funding to re-vamp a neglected area of Catterick, and expand the existing town centre, has been lodged.
Richmondshire District Council – in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and the MOD – has submitted an application to central government’s Levelling Up Fund.
It details ambitious proposals for the £21 million initial phase of a regeneration programme for enhancing Catterick town centre. This includes the re-development of land around Shute Road to provide more community facilities and space and to improve pedestrian connectivity.
If successful it should pave the way for further improvements that will deliver extra retail and commercial premises, and drive further investment into the area and the wider town centre for both the military and civilian communities.
“We want to see Shute Road and the area around it transformed into an attractive, vibrant and inclusive town centre,” said District Council Leader, Councillor Angie Dale.
“They are very exciting plans for the town. A new town square with a community and enterprise facility and the rejuvenation of Coronation Park will bring in more businesses and therefore more people giving the town centre the focus it doesn’t currently have.”
She said the plans include:
- a new town square
- landscaping improvements – including upgrading Coronation Park and Shute Road by providing enhanced play / active spaces as well as enhanced accessibility routes linking into the existing town centre
- enhance key footpaths and cycle ways through Coronation Park and on the approach to the town centre
- a new community and enterprise facility with glass pavilion and outdoor seating area
North Yorkshire County Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, who represents the Catterick Village and Brompton-on-Swale division and previously represented the entire Catterick Garrison, said: “The Levelling Up Fund provides the opportunity to introduce wide-ranging improvements in areas of the country which are often most in need.
“We have worked closely with our colleagues at Richmondshire District Council and the Ministry of Defence to draw up the bid which, if approved, will be of huge benefit to Catterick and the surrounding area for years to come.”
Major General Richard Clements, Director Basing and Infrastructure says: “The Army is very supportive of the regeneration of Catterick town centre, and a successful bid will provide the funding to deliver the joint vision for the town. Delivering the right infrastructure is key to encouraging investment in what will be a vibrant community that will greatly benefit our serving personnel, their families, and the wider civilian community.”
The Levelling Up Bid develops feasibility work that was jointly funded by the district council, MoD and the North Yorkshire and York Local Enterprise Partnership – and is also linked to the Catterick Garrison Masterplan that has been considered through the Richmondshire Local Plan Review.