Nottinghamshire County Council has received almost £7m from the UK government to implement regional improvements across the East Midlands, including more than £2m for a series of transport upgrades.
The local authority says this represents an early part of a wider government investment in the area as part of ongoing devolution talks, but that the money is not dependent on the success of these negotiations.
It comprises part of a wider £18m funding settlement for the region to support projects related to housing, the environment, infrastructure, skills and transport across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
Key programmes receiving funding are £750,000 for a new cycling and walking route in Derbyshire connecting Markham and Staveley, two new electric minibuses for students of West Nottinghamshire College and £1.5m for a new roundabout on the A6 at Fairfield in Buxton, Derbyshire.
The council will also use the money to develop local green skills, including building a new dedicated centre to develop the region’s low-carbon economy, funding for rental housing to address homelessness and money for affordable housing in Derby City.
Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council have been discussing devolution plans with central government, with a public consultation on the East Midlands Devolution proposal closing on 9 January.
The deal could include a package of local powers and funding worth £1.14bn from 2024 and the election of a new regional mayor.
Ben Bradley, MP and leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “It’s great that we’ve got the go ahead for these local programmes, and I hope that we will soon get approval on these other important projects.
“More affordable housing, tackling homelessness, cycle paths and footpaths, a multi-million-pound green skills programme; they are all important, and needed for our area.
“I’m really pleased that devolution will pay-off in the short term as well as the long term, to directly benefit local people.
“We’ve been working together to get these projects funded, and we’ve got confirmation that they can become a reality.”
Devolution would also guarantee a new funding stream for the region worth £38m a year over a 30-year period.
