The Market Towns Programme (MTP) is an ambitious programme of economic-led interventions to support Huntingdonshire’s town centres to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, while also looking forward to renewing and reshaping our town centres and high streets for the future in a way that promotes growth, improves experiences, and ensures sustainability.
The MTP is underpinned by creating a renewed sense of place, igniting civic pride and providing attractive new destinations for our residents and businesses alike. The longer-term ambition is to stimulate public and private sector investment, bringing forward future opportunities for jobs and skills.
The MTP consists of the strands below:
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Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) Market Towns Initiative
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Accelerated Delivery Projects (short-term projects in the market towns to impact recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic)
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Masterplanning (Huntingdon, Ramsey, St Ives) (long-term planning for the future enhancement of the three market towns, including potential enhancements)
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Investment in St Neots (an investment package for St Neots, made up of funding from a number of partner sources as well as the District Council)
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Future Funding Opportunities and Delivery (exploring and taking advantage of any suitable future opportunities for funding that can positively impact our market towns).
The MTP is funded through a combination of external funding from:
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Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC)
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Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA)
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Huntingdonshire District Council Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
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National Highways.
The cumulative funding confirmed to date for the MTP is circa £18 million, with around £15 million targeted at St Neots and the remaining £3 million being invested in Huntingdon, St Ives and Ramsey.
Following the development of the St Neots Masterplan for Growth in 2018, a successful bid was submitted in 2020 to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities to secure funding from the Future High Streets Fund (£3.8 million). On top of this, further funding has been secured for the investment in St Neots from National Highways (£3.5 million), the CPCA (£3.1m) and around £5 million from District Council Community Infrastructure Levy to make up the total £15.1 million.
Funding has been secured from CPCA for masterplanning work in the three remaining market towns, to unlock the opportunity for future investment and funding opportunities from external sources, much like the investment in St Neots.
