Arup-led consortium to deliver £3.6bn Towns Fund

A consortium led by the infrastructure firm Arup will help local authorities across England access the government’s £3.6bn Towns Fund.

The consortium brings together various organisations, including Copper Consultancy, Grant Thornton UK LLP, FutureGov, Nichols and Savills.

The news comes as the government publishes further Towns Fund guidance which sets out the key information local leaders need to prepare for a Town Deal and develop proposals in the form of a Town Investment Plan.

The 100 selected places will now have four weeks to decide whether or not to submit a Towns Investment Plan by 31 July 2020 or, in a later cohort, by either October 2020 or early 2021.

The Towns Fund looks to empower 100 towns across the country to shape their own futures by granting them access to the necessary resources to plan and manage their public works projects.

It will also allow towns to strengthen their economic, social and environmental resilience, an objective that has taken on renewed importance as the UK plans its economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

To access the fund, local authorities will work alongside the consortium as they engage with their communities, public and private partners and investors to develop their own proposals for a ‘Town Deal’ to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

‘These towns have a rich history, which we will work with them to build upon through this fund, capitalising on the many assets within each,’ said Arup’s director of integrated city planning, Joanna Rowelle.

‘Our geographic breadth and diverse resource capability mean that we can respond rapidly and effectively to the needs of this programme, as we bring together bespoke, first-class technical expertise across a range of services and known town priorities.

‘It’s an honour for us to be part of a project of such vital importance to the country, with such transformative implications. We look forward to playing our part in helping these towns to unlock their full potential and secure their future prosperity,’ she added.

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