Last updated at 09:20, Wednesday, 01 February 2012

CUMBRIA has been handed more than £4.5million for “shovel-ready” projects across the county.

Last November Communities and Local Government secretary Eric Pickles announced a £500m Growing Places fund would be distributed to LEPs to revive projects that have got “stuck in the mud” because of the economic slowdown.

Cumbria’s LEP submitted a proposal to the fund and this week revealed it had been given £4,505,274.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the cash injection would “unlock much-needed local infrastructure and get the homes we need built.

He said: “It will be local enterprise partnerships, made up of the people and businesses who know their local areas best, who will decide where this cash boost will be spent.”

The money is to be used for “shovel-ready” schemes – for roads, housing, shops and business parks.

George Beveridge, interim chair of the Cumbria LEP, said: “We're delighted at the confirmation of this funding, which will provide a real boost to stalled developments within the county.

“This is a revolving fund, and in Cumbria we'll be operating it on a challenge basis. Details of how to bid and dates for the first round of funding will be publicised shortly and will be available on our website, www.cumbrialep.co.uk”
 

First published at 09:13, Wednesday, 01 February 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk