EMCCA progresses with plans to unlock new growth opportunities across the region

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is progressing with plans to unlock new growth opportunities across the region by moving forward with six key projects for potential funding from the 2024/25 Investment Fund.

These projects aim to support long-term economic growth, create jobs, and drive sustainability across the region. 

EMCCA’s Devolution Deal includes an allocation of £38 million per year for the East Midlands Investment Fund, with £9.5m earmarked for capital projects in the 2024/25 financial year.

‘Boost the region’s economy’

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “These projects have been chosen for funding this year because their delivery will help boost the region’s economy. They will create jobs, help towards building homes, boosting local businesses and manufacturing, and produce cleaner energy.

“We want to support and enable them to continue their work and help us towards achieving our vision for an East Midlands full of opportunities, from having good jobs, quality education, and thriving local economies.

“We want to invest in vital projects, we can’t achieve the vision on our own, we need to work with partners across the region to invest in the right projects, projects that will make a real difference and this funding is just the start for the East Midlands.”

The projects under consideration include:

• South Derbyshire Growth Zone (SDGZ) – Funding to help facilitate a new junction on the A50 Trunk Road, which would enable plans to build 4,500 homes (with Garden Village status) and 3.45m sq feet of commercial floorspace, plus supporting infrastructure including a secondary school;
• Trent Clean Energy Supercluster (Bassetlaw) – Funding to move delivery forward for the Trent Clean Energy Supercluster, which centres on three former coal-fired Power Stations located alongside the River Trent: West Burton, High Marnham and Cottam, all in Bassetlaw. The West Burton power station site will be home to the ground-breaking STEP prototype fusion energy plant;  
• Derby City Urban Quarter – Funding to transform priority areas to create a vibrant, sustainable, and accessible urban quarter. The funding will enable the wider project work to revitalise historic buildings, enhance transport infrastructure, create new homes and improve public realm; 
• Broad Marsh (Nottingham) – Funding to carry out demolition of part of the frame on the land near to the newly opened Green Heart. This will be an important step in helping to bring forward work on Broad Marsh which will, when complete, provide 1,600 homes and create just over 2,000 jobs, whilst providing a wide range of facilities, entertainment, and attractions; 
• Infinity Park (Derby) – Funding for a Research and Development Facility within EMCCA’s Investment Zone to support advanced manufacturing and nuclear sectors. The project will provide services, facility hire and collaborative space to attract new supply chain businesses and inward investment. The funding from the Investment Fund will be used to repurpose existing space available on the Investment Zone site to enable the delivery of new research and development activities which would mean more jobs created; 
• Avenue Site Southern Access (North-East Derbyshire) – Funding for The Avenue, Wingerworth, which continues the delivery of one of the most ambitious and effective remediation projects ever undertaken in the UK. This funding will go towards creating a southern access to the sites to deliver improved access for vehicles and pedestrians and enable future development. 

The six projects are part of a broader pipeline of investments that were identified through collaboration with local councils. These projects are expected to play a significant role in boosting the local economy and ensuring that the region remains competitive and forward-looking. EMCCA’s Board has recommended the final approval of these business cases be delegated to the Mayor. 

Vision for growth 

EMCCA set out its initial strategic objectives for the region in the initial Strategic & Investment Framework. This sets out the vision for the region and 10 key objectives for growing the region. 

EMCCA has since commissioned the development of a long-term regional strategy – the East Midlands Inclusive Growth Strategy, which will guide how EMCCA invests a £4 billion funding pot to help drive a thriving economy across Derby and Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. 

This strategy is being overseen by the Inclusive Growth Commission, which will set out a 10-year plan for the improvement in the economic, social, health and environmental conditions in the region. The commissioners will spend the coming few months talking to communities, businesses, councils and major regional institutions to find out what people think about the region and its potential.