James is campaigning to ensure North West Norfolk benefits from the government's levelling up agenda including promoting investment in King's Lynn through the Towns Fund and other schemes.
King's Lynn has been selected as one of 100 towns that will benefit from the £3.6 billion Towns Fund which will pay for projects that deliver ‘’economic productivity through urban regeneration, planning and land use, skills and enterprise infrastructure and connectivity’’. James is a member of the King's Lynn Towns Fund Board working with the Borough Council, businesses, the College of West Anglia, and other local partners to develop the Town Investment Plan which aims to secure up to £25 million investment to boost long term economic growth. The Town Investment Plan will be the overarching strategy for the area with a focus on skills and enterprise, transport connectivity, promoting heritage, and urban regeneration.
In September 2020, it was announced that Kng’s Lynn will benefit from £750,000 of accelerated Towns Fund investment for a School of Nursing at the College of West Anglia, and investment to improve the town centre under £80 million of funding announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. This came after James called on the Prime Minister to support the case for the new School of Nursing.
The Town Investment Plan focuses on enhancing skills and jobs; regeneration; and improved connectivity. A Youth and Retraining Pledge will provide new opportunities for skills and support those affected by Covid-19 to reskill. Regeneration projects will make the most of our historic riverfront. It builds on local manufacturing, engineering, and health sector strengths by supporting growing businesses and takes advantage of King’s Lynn’s strong creative and cultural tradition with a restored Guildhall complex and new hub for creative businesses to collaborate and grow. Finally, the proposals will deliver a sustainably connected town with better walking and cycling routes, tackling the congestion, and improving air quality.
More details on the Town Investment Plan and Board, can be found at https://www.visionkingslynn.co.uk/
In the 2021 Budget, the Chancellor published the prospectus for the new Levelling Up Fund to support transport, heritage, or regeneration projects. James welcomed that King’s Lynn and West Norfolk is in the priority group for the new Fund.
