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Loughborough Town Deal Board meets for the final time following multi-million investment into the town – Latest News – News Updates
Published: Wed 20th May, 2026
Back row, photo shows Town Deal board members, from left to right: Heather Clarke, Chris Grace, Sally Watson, Andy Reed OBE, Vice Chair of Loughborough Town Deal, Charles Bentley, Maria Curran Bottom row shows Town Deal board members, from left to right: Lez Cope-Newman, Martin Traynor OBE, Chair of Loughborough Town Deal, Cllr Jennifer Tillotson and David Pagett-Wright.
The Loughborough Town Deal Board met for the final time after delivering millions of pounds of investment into the local economy.
The Town Deal has supported 11 local projects after securing £16.9 million from the Government’s Towns Fund in 2021.
With match funding, the programme of projects is worth over £50 million. With all but one project now completed, the Loughborough Town Deal has handed over governance and oversight responsibilities to Charnwood Borough Council following its final meeting at the Generator in Loughborough – one of the projects supported by the Town Deal.
Projects have included the creation of the Careers & Enterprise Hub in the town centre and a Digital Skills Hub at Loughborough College; investment in key local attractions including Great Central Railway and John Taylor and Co Bellfoundry; regeneration of the town centre; support for the town’s historic markets, events and town parks, plus the expansion of SportPark.
The final project to be completed is the ongoing Loughborough Wood Brook Flood Risk Management Scheme which is being led by the Environment Agency.
Martin Traynor OBE, Loughborough Town Deal Chair, said: “It is a proud day for the Loughborough Town Deal Board as we are able to look back and reflect on the amazing work that has been delivered for the town over the past seven years.
“During this time, investment has been made in historic buildings and industries while also looking to the future through new events in the town centre, and infrastructure at Loughborough College and Loughborough University.”
“The Town Deal projects are worth £50 million of investment into the local economy, and it has been a delight to work with project leads, local partners, authorities and organisations to secure this funding and ensure it makes a real impact for the people of Loughborough and visitors to the town.
“I would like to thank everyone involved including members past and present of the Town Deal Board and officers and councillors at Charnwood Borough Council for their dedication to help deliver these projects.”
The projects supported by Loughborough Town Deal have been:
- Loughborough College Digital Skills Hub
- Living Loughborough Project
- Healthy and Innovative Loughborough
- Loughborough Wood Brook Flood Risk Management Scheme
- The Bedford Square Gateway Project
- The Generator – Creative Industries and Community Arts Hub
- John Taylor’s Bell Foundry: Saving the last major bell foundry in Britain
- Loughborough Riverside Regeneration
- Careers and Enterprise Hub
- Great Central Railway – A new Heritage Locomotive Works, Education Centre & Museum for Loughborough
- Lanes and Links Project
The Loughborough Town Deal Board was first formed in 2020, after the town was selected to bid for Government’s Towns Fund.
It has involved a range of organisations, including the borough council, Loughborough University, Loughborough College Group, Love Loughborough BID, Leicestershire County Council, Charnwood Together Economy and Skills Group, local and independent businesses and the Loughborough MP, formerly Jane Hunt and now Dr Jeevun Sandher.
Following extensive research and consultation, the Board submitted to Government its Town Deal Investment plan which included a range of projects.
In 2021, it was announced that Loughborough Town Deal was successful in securing £16.9 million.
The first project to be completed was the opening of the Careers & Enterprise Hub in the town centre. The project, delivered by Loughborough College Group and Loughborough University, was supported with £750,000 of advanced funding by the Town Deal and was set up to provide people of all ages with resources and guidance for skill development and business startups.
The completion of major projects then followed including the improvements to the town centre to make it a more attractive and accessible place for visitors through the Bedford Square Gateway project in 2022, improving the canal footpaths in 2023 and helping to save John Taylor’s Bell Foundry which included the creation of a new visitor centre that opened in 2024.
Investments also saw the extension of SportPark Pavillion 4 at Loughborough University, the creation of a Digital Skills Hub located at Loughborough College and the casting and installation of the Hope Bell – a lasting memorial which pays tribute to key workers and those that lost their lives during the pandemic.
The final Loughborough Town Deal project that has been completed was the opening a new multidisciplinary arts venue in the town centre, the Generator which received £1.63 million of funding.
Fittingly, the final board meeting took place at the Generator on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
The projects completed are worth around £40 million. Once the Loughborough Wood Brook Flood Risk Management Scheme is completed, the total investment is set to be worth around £51 million.
To find out more about the Loughborough Town Deal, visit its website.
