MHCLG pledges £30m for cultural regeneration projects in Leeds and York
York’s National Railway Museum will receive £15m, Temple Works in Leeds will receive £10m, and £5m has been allocated towards the National Poetry Centre.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government has pledged funding for six cultural projects that will aid regeneration across Leeds, York, Liverpool, Coventry, and Worcester, pledging £47m in total.
Following a visit by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner to Temple Works last Thursday, £10m of funding has been confirmed to start the process of revamping the derelict grade one-listed building, which will house the British Library North.
It is hoped this will encourage further regeneration of housing and commercial space on the surrounding sites.
A further £5m has been pledged to Leeds, for the renovation of a grade two-listed property to be used as the national headquarters for poetry.
Meanwhile, £15m has been allocated for the construction of a new Central Hall building at the National Railway Museum in York, which will include a new entrance, gallery, shop, café, event space, and visitor facilities.
The museum is part of the York Central regeneration scheme, which is turning railway land into a new city quarter with more than 3,000 homes, offices, and retail space.
READ MORE: Development agreement in place for York Central
Cllr James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “The British Library North project aims to create a world-class space for learning, research, exhibitions, and events that would unlock the huge potential of Temple Works and boost the ongoing regeneration of the wider Holbeck and South Bank areas…
“We have worked hard in recent months with partners, including the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Homes England and the British Library itself, to make the case for this funding.
“Together we were able to emphasise the importance of the scheme and the economic and social benefits it would bring to Leeds, West Yorkshire, and the North, not least through engagement and connections with local communities.
“We were very pleased to welcome the deputy prime minister to Temple Works last week so she could see first-hand what this remarkable heritage asset is all about.
“We will now continue to work alongside partners on detailed plans for the full funding, design, and development of a project that remains a complex and challenging undertaking, but one that offers a major regeneration opportunity for both Temple Works and the surrounding area.
“The council also welcomes today’s confirmation that £5m in funding for Leeds’s proposed National Poetry Centre is now in place.
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said: “Through investing in these critical cultural projects we can empower both local leaders and people to really tap into their potential and celebrate everything their home town has to offer. This means more tourism, more growth and more money in people’s pockets.”
Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said: “Everyone across the country should be able to access arts and culture in the place they call home.
“This support will empower our cultural organisations to continue playing an essential role in developing skills, talent and high-quality careers in every corner of the UK.”
