 What is the Be Lincoln Town Deal?
Lincoln was one of 101 towns and cities selected by government to work towards a Town Deal and, in January 2020, a multi-agency board was established to oversee the creation of the Town Investment Plan which includes a vision and 5-year project programme to support the growth and development of the city.
The Be Lincoln Town Deal consist of 13 projects, which prioritise digitalisation, skills to support inclusive growth, sustainable transport and urban regeneration. The five year programme of work started in 2022, with projects such as The Drill, HEAT, Store of Stories Community supermarket and Cornhill Market having now been completed, the benefit and use is now being monitored and evaluated. The remaining projects are at various stages but several important milestones are expected to be completed within the next year.
2023 impact
In 2023 we saw many projects progress and make an impact on the city.
Lincoln Community Grocery Store’s move to a permanent location at Beaumont Manor resulted in 1700 children benefiting from healthier meals, and over 100 households joining the grocery membership scheme every month to access low cost shopping. Run in partnership by The Message Trust, Alive Church Lincoln and Acts Trust, this project is providing an invaluable response to the cost of living crisis currently being experienced by many families in Lincoln.
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The Drill and HEAT (Hospitality, Events, Arts and Tourism institute), also thrived in 2023, providing learning and employment opportunities for students while offering great experiences to visitors of Lincoln. Funding from the Be Lincoln Town Deal supported the re-opening and refurbishment of the The Drill and The Old Bakery, iconic buildings now being manged by Lincoln College as not-for-profit subsidiaries dedicated to enhance student learning and skillsets.
Since The Old Bakery restaurant re-opened in December 2022, they have welcomed over 5,000 customers, who have all indirectly contributed towards the education of local young people. With the start of the new academic year in September 2023, the restaurant also benefited 18 students by providing work experience placements.
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2024 promises more achievements from the Town Deal projects, including the re-opening of Cornhill Market, the completion of the Stacey West Stand Community Hub at Lincoln City Football Club, and the start of renovation works on the listed Greyfriars and Barbican buildings. The year will also see more businesses supported to enhance their digital productivity through the Lincoln Be Smarter project, a new, upgraded Visit Lincoln website and cultural art commissions delivered through the Lincoln Connected project, and the start of works to improve cycling and the environment at Sincil Bank.
Keep an eye out for future updates on progress throughout the year.
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