More than £16.7m in Levelling Up Funding has been granted to pay for a project which will transform Denton.
Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has secured over the Levelling Up Funding for the Destination Denton project. The bid, submitted in partnership with Tameside Council, includes funding to fully restore the Denton Festival Hall and turn it into a community hub, as well as significant improvements to the public realm around Denton Town Centre and Victoria Park. The announcement comes following intense lobbying of ministers at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities after the bid’s rejection in Round Two of the fund, with previous bids deemed as “high-quality” and “ready to deliver” being revisited in Round Three.
Mr Gwynne said: “I am delighted that Ministers have finally heeded the calls from myself, Tameside councillors, and residents, and given Denton the recognition it deserves.
“After banging on the department’s door for years, we have secured this significant pot of funding which will help unlock Denton’s clear potential.
“This is a welcome early Christmas present to people in Denton and across Tameside, and I cannot wait to see the project get underway and start making a real difference to the local community.”
Last year, the MP explained his determination to transform Denton town centre in his column which appears in the Tameside Reporter every week.
He said: "I’ve always believed in the importance of town centres. A good town centre connects communities, gives us pride in where we live, and empowers local businesses.
"This belief has led me to back a new funding bid for further investment in Denton’s town centre. Over the last few years, we have seen the rise of ‘Destination Denton’. Back in 2020, Denton saw the largest growth of new independent businesses, ahead of any other town centre in the UK. I’ve had a brilliant time over the last couple of years visiting these new restaurants, bars and shops and have been inspired by the ambition of Denton’s entrepreneurs.
"We now need to make sure that these businesses are given the support they need to thrive as we recover from the pandemic, whilst also ensuring that local people have a town centre that they can be proud of.
"This bid would do that, which is why it has the strong backing of both myself and Tameside Council. If successful, the submission would secure £20m in investment to improve public spaces, create new walking and cycling facilities and attract additional investment in the local economy. It’s important to say that the bid is still in its early stages, but it is an incredibly exciting prospect."
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