Plans for Coalville's new Lyceum - an educational and cultural hub in the town centre - have received strong backing from local businesses and other organisations, says North West Leicestershire District Council.

The building is seen as a major step forwards in the town's revitalisation and initial proposals were first revealed in June.

You can read that article HERE.

Since then, 45 different messages of support for a bid to the Government's Levelling Up Fund have been received from across the private, public, charity and community sectors.

The bid has been submitted by North West Leicestershire District Council in an innovative public/private partnership with the owners of Coalville's Belvoir Shopping Centre, Gylo, and Stephenson College.

The Levelling Up Fund was set up to provide new investment for town centres.

Almost £9 million is being sought to bring the new Lyceum skills and arts building to the town.

The development proposal within the shopping centre has been carefully and professionally produced by a dedicated project team and includes:

• Educational facilities in association with SMB Group (Stephenson College)
• Flexible space for concerts, dance, film, exhibitions, conferences and other events
• Health and wellbeing related classes and drop-in sessions
• A large café opening onto a new outdoor community space and performance area

The project's aim is to bring more people into Coalville, breathing new life into the town centre and providing a boost for the local economy.

It has been thoroughly assessed and shows excellent value for the public money requested by the bid.

The organisations which have written to declare their support include:

• The National Forest Company, whose Chief Executive John Everitt, said: "This bid provides the opportunity for much needed investment through arts and culture to transform the infrastructure of Coalville, much like our tree planting has transformed the landscape around it."

• East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, whose Chief Executive Scott Knowles commented: "Levelling Up is absolutely essential to North West Leicestershire, as it is for the majority of our region."

• The charity Enrych, whose Head of Community Development Bev Cowley said: "Many of our employees live locally and spend time supporting adults with disabilities in this area. It's important to us as a charity to ensure that the town which is central to our business develops to suit the needs of our diverse community."

• Local housebuilder William Davis Homes, whose Managing Director Guy Higgins said: "As a company we are strongly committed to creating local employment opportunities and with a successful apprenticeship scheme, we especially welcome the new educational and training facilities which the Lyceum would provide."

Any local business or resident can back the bid by writing to Robert Jenrick MP, the Secretary Of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, at 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF or by emailing [email protected].

The bid has already received endorsement from North West Leicestershire MP, Andrew Bridgen, who put the case for the Lycuem to Mr Jenrick last month Coalville MP meets Robert Jenrick to support the new Lycuem.

Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council, said: "It's very encouraging but not at all surprising to receive such clear support for Coalville.

The town is in urgent need of investment and has been a priority for us for some time now and we're starting to see many of our plans emerge. I

"If we are successful in this bid for funding, the introduction of a dedicated space for skills and arts would be absolutely fantastic for the town.

"I encourage everybody interested in supporting a vibrant new heart to Coalville to write to the Secretary of State and pledge their support."

A decision on the bid is expected from Government towards the end of the year.