“It is disappointing to have not been successful in the latest round of levelling up bids, but the initial proposal put forward for Ilfracombe unfortunately did not tick the right boxes to progress far enough to be considered by ministers. This does not mean that Ilfracombe does not need levelling up or support, but that this bid failed to demonstrate that it would indeed level up Ilfracombe. The bid did not meet the threshold in round two and therefore was not going to be successful in this round. The parameters of this fund had an emphasis on transport and that was not the focus of our bid, or what Ilfracombe really needs.
Sadly, there was not a strategy in place for Ilfracombe at the time that addressed housing and skills, but we have, with the intervention of Devon County Council and their new Chief Executive a far better ask of government. It is not something that could have been delivered though this funding mechanism unfortunately.
Affordable housing, urban regeneration, reimagining public spaces and derelict buildings across the town and not just the sea front, as this bid was, is what we need for Ilfracombe.
I would like to thank our council officers who I know have put a lot of work into the bid and I am sure that some of the elements will be taken forward and be part of future programmes.
The bidding process is particularly difficult on small district councils like ours and whilst disappointed with today’s announcement, it is not a surprise, and I am pleased to see that we are moving towards a more allocation based approached rather than a competitive bidding model.”
Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon
