Rossendale's vision to be 'bridge to Lancashire from Manchester and Yorkshire'

Changes are being made to town centres with the Council having secured in excess of £50million in external funding over the last few years, helping the Valley attract new businesses, residents and visitors. Rossendale Borough Council says its vision is to have a thriving local economy.

The aim for the Valley to be the bridge to Lancashire from Greater Manchester and Yorkshire continues to see it revitalised. Plans are well underway for regeneration in Bacup and Haslingden, including the £8.5million redevelopment of Bacup Market – and the £500,000 refurbishment of Haslingden market.

Meanwhile, a new masterplan for Rawtenstall has identified a pipeline of projects to support its regeneration, including investment in Rawtenstall market, new public realm improvements and changes to the gyratory system in St Mary’s Way. Already the Spinning Point scheme in 2016 helped to energise Rawtenstall town centre and reinvigorate its market into a destination venue for food, drink and events.

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While the £50million milestone has now been passed already another £20million has been secured as part of Central Government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns initiative. The endowment-style funding over 10 years is to be spent on projects in Rawtenstall, Crawshawbooth and Waterfoot under three themes of infrastructure, town centres and safety and gives the Valley further opportunities for change.

The Council says establishing thriving town centres in the Valley is a council priority and the creation of 2040 Visions boards for Bacup and Haslingden has helped steer the regeneration programmes. At the same time other initiatives receiving hundreds of thousand pounds worth of funding such as Rossendale Works and Rossendale Employability and Skills Forum has secured employment for people – sometimes for the benefit of disadvantaged residents.

Programmes costing more than a million pounds each have seen the completion of the Bacup Townscape Heritage Initiative and the Bacup High Streets Heritage Action Zone completed, while National Lottery Heritage funding has been secured for the Big Lamp Project in Higher Deardengate, Haslingden.

Inward investment has attracted growth businesses, bringing quality employment to the borough. For example, a £1.5million Growth Deal funded scheme to improve the junction and prevent flooding at Futures Park.

An exciting aspect of development throughout Rossendale has been the investment to attract visitors to the Valley. This has included the £2million National Lottery Fund financed extension at the Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery, securing £630,000 of Sport England funding to support upgrading The Hill at Ski Rossendale, and development of the Trail Head Centre at the Lee Quarry Mountain Bike facility at Futures Park.

Rossendale is becoming a must-go destination for both mountain bike and road cyclists. Apart from the thrilling purpose-built Lee Quarry site, there are lots of exciting trails across the Valley, while a cycle hub is planned in the upper tier of the new Market Hall at Bacup, cycle hire is available at Ski Rossendale, and cycle café is earmarked for the centre of Crawshawbooth.

Smaller regeneration initiatives have seen the council source funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Local Economic Recovery Growth Fund, the National Lottery Fund and Historic England schemes.