Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Government's £6.4million Boxing Day gift for March High Street Fund




A once in a generation opportunity to transform March and make it 'fit for the future' has won a major boost from the Government.

Local MP Steve Barclay has today (Boxing Day) announced the Government is to give £6.4 million as part of its £1billion plan for High Streets to the March High Street Fund.

Fenland District Council announced in May it was bidding for up to £11.3million to bring forward ambitious proposals to revitalise March town centre after it was short-listed for the final phase of its application to the £1billion national pot in July 2019.

MP Steve Barclay has announced the Government is giving £6.4million towards the March town high street project. (43721914)
MP Steve Barclay has announced the Government is giving £6.4million towards the March town high street project. (43721914)

Today Mr Barclay, MP for North East Cambridgeshire expressed his delight in Fenland's success in receiving the £6.4million of Government cash which it is hoped will help unlock significant regeneration opportunities.

He said: "A key priority for me is to secure additional Government investment for our area to ensure Fenland and East Cambridgeshire unlocks its full potential.

"I am therefore delighted that, working with Councillor Chris Boden and Fenland councillors, County Council Leader Councillor Steve Count, and Cambridgeshire Mayor James Palmer, we have secured this game changing investment in March which will be a huge boost to the whole of Fenland."

Ambitious plans submitted to transform Marchthrough the Future High Streets Fund - this is what Broad Street could look like. (43721918)
Ambitious plans submitted to transform Marchthrough the Future High Streets Fund - this is what Broad Street could look like. (43721918)

The plans for March, which have a total price tag of £21.8million, aim to diversify what the town has to offer and support its growth and sustainability by improving it for the wider community and attracting more people to live, work and visit in the future.

The bold scheme includes transforming Broad Street to include much more pedestrian space and reduce traffic and opening up the underused riverside areas, providing improved access and seating around the Town Bridge area.

Other plans include re-developing the historic Market Place to make it more of a community space, regenerating the Acre Road area and bringing vacant buildings back into use.

Ambitious plans submitted to transform Marchthrough the Future High Streets Fund - the plans include a stunning transformation of the town's river side. (43721922)
Ambitious plans submitted to transform Marchthrough the Future High Streets Fund - the plans include a stunning transformation of the town's river side. (43721922)

It is hoped the Government’s cash will help leverage in up to £10.4million of match funding and private investment to see the scheme completed.

Today's announcement is the latest in a series of Government funding given in recent weeks to benefit Fenland and East Cambs, including cultural support for the Angles Theatre and Luxe Cinema in Wisbech earlier this month, investment in the platform extension and eight carriage trains which started this month in Littleport, and the progress on the crossing at Kings Dyke in Whittlesey.

Mr Barclay said: "It shows we our successfully getting our message across to secure extra investment in our area."



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More