Anthony Mangnall MP (Totnes & South Devon) has welcomed the news that Brixham and Paignton will benefit from £20 million from the third round of the Levelling Up Fund.
Today’s announcement from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities comes after Torbay Council’s applications for the first two rounds were unsuccessful. Minister for Levelling Up, Jacob Young MP, shared the news that the ‘Brixham Fish and Hi Tech Chips’ project is one of the bids which has now been assessed by the department as being high-quality and ready-to-deliver.
This project will build significantly on Torbay’s strengths; Brixham as the most valuable fishing port in England and Wales, and the EPIC Centre in Paignton as one of the UK’s leaders in the cutting-edge photonics sector.
This £20 million investment from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund in South Devon, supported by an additional £4.79 million from Torbay Council, will provide £16 million for a new fish quay and will double the size of the current auction hall – unlocking the next generation of growth for the local fishing industry. This will mean an additional £20 million of fish landed within five years and the creation of around 160 new jobs.
£8 million will be provided to build a new Electronics and Photonics Production Park with new specialist production facilities. This will strengthen EPIC’s record of innovation and attract new inward investment, generating nearly 150 new jobs.
This investment brings the total investment in Torbay over the current Parliament to £107 million including a Town Deal for Torquay worth over £20m and nearly £13.5 million for Torquay and Paignton from the Future High Streets Fund.
Anthony Mangnall (MP for Totnes & South Devon) said:
“At last we have succeeded in ensuring that Brixham and Paignton get their fair share from the Levelling Up Fund.
This funding of almost £25 million recognises the huge opportunities that are to be found within our fishing sector and our high tech industry. Working with local stakeholders, I have been proud to push for Brixham and Paignton to receive this money fully aware that it will help the fishing and photonics sector and to grow over the coming months, attract more investment and create significant job opportunities.
This welcome news will only help to bolster the UK fishing sector and further advance our global leadership in photonics.”
David Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council, said:
“More fantastic news for the Bay and I am delighted that Brixham has been recognised for more levelling up money. These new monies bring a total of £105m of government grant money into the bay and provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring forward our ambitious regeneration plans.
These new monies help bring forward additional jobs to our towns, together with renewed investment in both our fishing and hi-tech industries.”
Wayne Loschi, EPIC Centre Director, said:
"The success of EPIC demonstrates the demand for purpose-built facilities in the technology sector. This funding will enable Torbay to offer credible expansion space to support the growth of some of existing businesses and encourage inward investment."
Barry Young, Managing Director of Brixham Trawler Agents, said:
“We have just received the fantastic news that Brixham Quay has been granted a major part of the total sum which Torbay Council is going to receive from the latest Levelling Up round.
This will enable us to continue to grow our business, employ more local people, work in a safe environment, but most of all help us to serve fishermen around the UK in the best way we can. At this stage we would like to thank Torbay Council, Rob Parsons (Torbay Harbour Master) and our local MP Anthony Mangnall for their support.”