Darwen and Nelson receive £25m each from government

Two Lancashire towns have each received £25m from the government's town deal fund.

Darwen will use the funding to underpin its £116m investment plan which aims to generate and safeguard more than 600 jobs and create or assist more than 200 businesses.

This money will also allow the Darwen Town Deal Board to progress a range of new projects, in addition to the progress already being made by early Town Deal investment in the Darwen Tower, J4 Skatepark and AFC Darwen.

Wayne Wild, chair of Darwen Town Deal Board (pictured, left), said: "Today is a day for real celebration in Darwen, as the prime minister’s announcement means that we can now begin the real work to help create the even more thriving town which this community deserves.

"Given the size of Darwen, we are clearly punching well above our economic weight to have secured the maximum amount of government funding available, and this investment will help transform the town over the coming years."

Nelson, which also received the full £25m on offer, will advance its Town Investment Plan to deliver more than 500 new jobs by investing in the town centre and creating a new Digital Skills Academy Hub and Youth Employability Service.

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