TEN projects in Yorkshire have been approved for funding from a Government scheme to help boost economic recovery.

The infrastructure projects will benefit from £15.4m secured by York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

The funding has come from the Government’s Getting Building Fund, following a bid by the LEP in June, which outlined a list of local projects capable of boosting economic recovery from Covid-19.

Ten projects have now had funding approved and will receive a share of the £15.4m fund, with all needing to be implemented within 18 months.

David Dickson, chairman of the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership Infrastructure and Joint Assets Board, said: “The LEP has a vision for economic recovery from Covid-19, which highlights a greener, fairer, stronger, future for York & North Yorkshire.

"These ten schemes reflect those values and also offer resilience for our region’s infrastructure, rejuvenation for town and city centres, fresh learning and skills provision and new business and job opportunities – particularly in areas which depend on tourism. We’re delighted to have been able to secure funding to help them progress.”

The ten projects to have Getting Building Fund money approved are:

  • North Yorkshire Digital Infrastructure Programme. Led by North Yorkshire County Council, this includes making improvements to town centre wi-fi across North Yorkshire and improved digital connectivity for business parks;
  • Thornton Rd Business Park Phase Three, Pickering. Led by Ryedale District Council; this invovles site preparation to enable development of a business park;
  • Whitby Business Park. Led by Scarborough Borough Council; this is the creation of new space within Whitby Business Park aimed at micro and small businesses;
  • A19, Chapel Haddlesey. Led by North Yorkshire County Council – repairs to a key link road and embankments badly damaged by flooding earlier this year;
  • Digital Skills Academy. Led by Askham Bryan College, this is to construct a learning space providing digital skilling and re-skilling opportunities;
  • Electric car and green skills. Led by Scarborough TEC, funding will support electric vehicle education and training;
  • Increasing technical skills capabilities in electric vehicle technologies. Led by York College, this is for electric vehicle skills development at York College;
  • Harrogate West Business Park. Led by Harrogate Borough Council – investment for site infrastructure for the development of two employment units;
  • Enhancement to the Digital Hub, Central Northallerton. Led by Hambleton District Council, a town centre building will be re-purposed as an e-campus that will provide the local community with a micro-university environment;
  • York Guildhall fit-out. Led by City of York Council, this involves an internal fit-out of the historic Guildhall building for use as high-quality office space and business start-up location.

In recent years, investment secured by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership has been committed to a range of projects that stimulate economic growth. This investment has been shown to lever private investment – for every £1 of LEP investment, a further £9 is invested from the private sector.