North Lincolnshire Council has been working with partners to improve broadband provision across the county, particularly to help businesses compete globally. Working with ITS Technology Group, Scunthorpe has become part of the Faster Britain network, and local company Quickline Communications is upgrading more than 1,500 rural homes and businesses to ultrafast broadband. By re-using existing infrastructure, Faster Britain builds are deployed quickly and minimise disruption through intrusive and prolonged digs which means connectivity can be installed in a matter of weeks.
Progression of the £4.5m M181 motorway infrastructure scheme is continuing at pace. Improvements will make available 60 acres of land for commercial development, with construction hitting a key milestone in early March and work expected to be completed on the roundabout by May. Pat Doody, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “The LEP’s £4.5m investment in this highly strategic junction will enable a significant amount of housing and employment growth for Scunthorpe, creating a new sustainably focused extension to the town and the opportunity for commercial investment in some of our key sectors, particularly advanced manufacturing.”
North Lincolnshire Council held a webinar for transport and logistics businesses in March, opening conversations on subjects such freeports, decarbonisation, green energy, and the Integrated Transport Strategy. The panel included our own Greater Lincolnshire LEP Chief Executive Ruth Carver and representatives from North Lincolnshire Council, the Department for Transport, Midlands Connect, Transport for the North and the Humber Freeport Bid team and was attended by 25 businesses.
North Lincolnshire Towns Fund Board plans for Scunthorpe have recently secured funding. Exciting planned projects can now proceed quickly and include an advanced manufacturing park, a health, innovation and emergency services hub, infrastructure to fuel clean growth and decarbonisation in Scunthorpe, 500 new homes and vastly improved digital connectivity.
We'd like to extend our thanks to our colleagues for continuing to drive growth locally and supporting us in our collective endeavours into recovery.
