A multi-million pound investment in Scarborough over the next decade will drive forward regeneration on the coast, boosting job opportunities and helping to improve the health and wellbeing of communities, North Yorkshire Council’s leader has said.
The Government has confirmed that funding of almost £20 million will remain for Scarborough as part of a national programme to bring major investment to towns across the country.
The programme has now been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods with an expanded remit to improve health and wellbeing along with work, productivity and skills. It is also aimed at boosting cohesion and education along with opportunities for local communities.
The original ambitions of the national programme, which was previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns, also remain and include reviving town centres, regeneration, promoting heritage and culture and addressing safety and security concerns.
Improving transport and connectivity are also key considerations under the initiative.
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “The chance to use such a significant amount of funding in Scarborough will bring wide-ranging benefits not just for communities in the town, but also far wider across the region.
“Scarborough is one of our biggest towns here in North Yorkshire, and there is real potential to bring a new era for what is among the country’s most popular seaside destinations.
“The fact that the scope of the Plan for Neighbourhoods has been broadened to the previous incarnation of the scheme gives us an even greater chance to transform Scarborough for residents, businesses and visitors.”
A total of £19.5 million in funding has been allocated for Scarborough to be spent over the next 10 years.
The new Plan for Neighbourhoods for Scarborough needs to be developed and submitted by the winter of this year, with the delivery of the projects due to start from the spring of 2026.
The chair of the council’s Scarborough and Whitby area committee, Cllr Liz Colling, who represents the Falsgrave and Stepney division, said: “Scarborough is such a wonderful place to live, work and visit, but like so many coastal areas, it does need investment.
“The funding that has been allocated to the town will bring very real benefits for so many people, and it is a welcome announcement from the Government that the money remains in place.
“I look forward to seeing the range of projects that come forward for this investment.”
The Government has said that previous work to consult and engage with local communities should be retained and adapted for the new programme.
North Yorkshire Council previously worked in partnership with the Scarborough Town Board to develop a 10-year vision document and a three-year plan for investment. In addition, there was extensive public consultation with more than 1,600 people taking part in Let’s Talk Scarborough events in the town centre and surrounding area and an online survey.
Key priorities for people who took part in the consultations included a cleaner, more attractive town centre in Scarborough and more frequent bus services, especially for teenagers and the elderly.
There is also a desire among the public to balance the needs of residents and tourists, and addressing the need for more public spaces and seating areas where people can gather and interact.
The initial vision focused on a number of measures that could be delivered within the town centre including the further redevelopment of the Scarborough Station area in Westborough, improving the appearance of the town centre and the inclusion of more public spaces.
North Yorkshire Council will be overseeing further community engagement in due course to build on the Let’s Talk Scarborough consultations and identify further priorities within the expanded themes of the Plan for Neighbourhoods.
