The Egremont and Area Regeneration Partnership
The Egremont and Area Regeneration Partnership, formed in 2000, became a limited company in 2004 in order to progress the Market Town Initiative. A master planning exercise was carried out in 2004, and the funding for the Market Town Initiative, which took forward a number of the projects in that plan was agreed for expenditure in autumn 2005. Since then thirty-six projects have been implemented under the Market Town Initiative, with many more under the Partnership's other funding streams through West Lakes Renaissance, European Regional Development Fund and Arts Council England.
Employment Access Service
By working with Phoenix Enterprise Centre, the Egremont and Area Regeneration Partnership has brought a regular advice service to help people back into employment to Egremont, assisting over 150 people with finding work, self-employment advice and training. EARP will look to continue this service within the new De Lucy Resource Centre
Over the first two years of the Market Town Initiative, 22 businesses have been created, with further advice given to existing businesses. InBiz have also administered a business development grants scheme on behalf of the Partnership. The Partnership will look to ensure that business start up advice continues within Egremont.
Public Realm
Growing out of the Mini-Master plan the Gateways project has progressed several public realm improvements, including the town centre entrances from the by-pass, improvements to the park area alongside the castle, lighting the castle and cemetery buildings, improvements to town centre pedestrian signage and improving access to leisure opportunities in the surrounding countryside.
Above right: Stonewalling during the gateway improvements and left walkers stroll at Longlands lake.
Building Reuse Grants
The Partnership has to date awarded six large grants to buildings that have been out of use for a considerable length of time, working to a priority list identified in the mini-master plan. Six disused buildings will have been brought back into use by March 2008, with an average of three jobs created in each building. This major cause of blight in the town centre will have been nearly eradicated. Further grant funding has been obtained to continue the scheme, with a further five buildings to be targeted. The building grants have helped to create a cycle barn, office accommodation and a new restaurant. The large reuse grants have been complemented with a number of shop front facelift grants.
Creative Egremont http://www.creative-egremont.org/
The Egremont Regeneration Partnership has worked closely with Grizedale Arts, with funding from West Lakes Renaissance to ensure that a community led arts strategy plays a central role in positioning Egremont for a future based on a more diverse economy. Creative Egremont has led to several high profile cultural projects including Alan Kane and Jeremy Deller's Greasy Pole, the Castle Pavilion Performance Space, and a feasibility for a new Cultural Centre, as well as work with young people in Thornhill to renovate a bus shelter, music making projects, and others.
Castle Pavilion Performance Space
A Royal Institute of British Architects Design Ideas Competition received 28 entries from local, national and international practices. The winning entry, by Jean-Gilles Decousterd and Cotting Structural Engineers is now being developed and it is hoped to have this unique project completed within 2008, with funding from West Lakes Renaissance and West Cumbria Development Fund, along with private funding.
Community Pot
The Egremont Regeneration Parntership has helped many community organisations through its community pot grants. These range from the Young Cumbria Youth Club, which purchased recording equipment and paid for staff time, to provide high quality opportunities for young people, to Open Gates Nursery, which required a rubberised play area, these grants have been able to encourage grass roots regeneration. Other grants have been made to Thornhill Youth Group, Crab Fair, Copeland Pride Awards and Lowes Court Gallery and Tourist Information Centre.
Community Orchard
As part of the landscaping work at the town's entrances, an area has been created as a community orchard, with a partnership with the De Lucy Resource Centre and Copeland Borough Council leading to the creation of a social enterprise to run an orchard of one hundred trees, utilising the fruit to produce distinctive Egremont products which will restore the town's historic link with the fruit as well as helping to sustain the resource centre. Volunteers are always welcome, contact the Regeneration office on 01946 825546.
Tourism Support
A Tourism Action plan was carried out in the first year of the Market Town Initiative and from this a post has been created for a Marketing and Tourism Officer to promote and develop Egremont's tourism potential. including leisure routes for cycling and walking and the development of a new web site.
Funding
Initial funding of £1million has come through the North West Regional Development Agency for the Market Town Initiative and the MTI office. This funding has been matched with investment from partner organisations, Copeland Borough Council, private levered investment and other sources. The Egremont Regeneration Partnership has sought to sustain the work by working closely with West Lakes Renaissance to deliver their business plan for the area. A further £1m funding has so far been brought in through this source, with another £750,000 to date in funding from other sources.
