IMPROVEMENTS to the visitor facilities at Moira Furnace are already part of a plan to invest in district-wide regeneration projects covering heritage, leisure, zero carbon and tourism - which has been rubber-stamped by North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC).

A meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday approved the North West Leicestershire Regeneration Framework.

The document lists investment in leisure facilities to support health and well-being, heritage projects that aim to draw in more tourism and the creation of more employment sites, whilst working to reduce reliance on the car and supporting town centres to thrive.

Some projects within the framework are already underway – including a number of Coalville regeneration projects, the Kegworth marketplace project, support to reopen the Ivanhoe Line and improvements to the visitor facilities at Moira Furnace.

North West Leicestershire is in the top five per cent of the UK's local authority areas for job density and almost 5,000 businesses are based in the district. 

With companies attracted to the area due to the accessible location, the framework includes work to identify and develop employment sites which can support jobs for local people.

Support for the re-opening of the Ivanhoe Line is also included. Photo: CRIL

Repairs to Moira Furnace, support for the National Forest's Heart of the Forest Masterplan and developing a Visitor Economy Action Plan combine to support tourism in the district and protect the district's rich heritage.

Investment in a 3G pitch in Castle Donington and an assessment of community leisure needs also throws focus on the health and well-being of local people.

Councillor Tony Gillard, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration at NWLDC, said: "This regeneration framework is based on what evidence shows our district needs to boost the economy – whether that's protecting our heritage sites, investing in leisure or supporting our town centres.

"Our district is an attractive prospect for large investment and development. It's important that we, as a district council, support our communities to grow in the right way. That's why health and well-being, zero carbon and heritage are high on the priority list in this plan.

"We're aspirational and want to support growth in the right way, so this plan marks investment across the district in projects that will work towards that."

The full list of regeneration projects within the North West Leicestershire Regeneration Framework are as follows:

Enabling Health and Wellbeing

· Castle Donington 3G Pitch - The development of new 3G pitch provision in the village of Castle Donington.

· Leisure provision opportunities research - The commission of a Community and Recreational Facilities strategy which will identify the need and opportunity for new leisure facilities across the district.

Reducing the need to travel by car

· Reopening the Ivanhoe Line - Supporting Network Rail and the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL) toward the reopening of the Ivanhoe Railway Line.

· Kegworth Quietway - The creation of a new cycling Quietway at Long Lane, Kegworth.

Supporting the Economy and Local Centres

· Kegworth Marketplace - Working with Kegworth Parish Council on the reimagined public realm space in Kegworth's Marketplace.

· Coalville Regeneration - Continue to monitor progress of the projects within the Coalville Regeneration Framework and update it annually with new initiatives as projects are completed.

· Employment workspace site development - Identify and develop sites which will help provide employment opportunities and meet local need.

· North West Leicestershire Ambassadors Programme - Starting with a Pilot scheme in Coalville, the Ambassador Programme will empower local champions on every high street in our Towns and Local Centres.

Conserving and Enhancing Heritage

· Moira Furnace - Develop and enhance the Moira Furnace visitor experience and undertake repairs to conserve and protect the Furnace

· Ashby Canal - Support the continued development and restoration of the canal and collaborate with the Ashby Canal Association on future joint funding bids.

Conserving and Enhancing Natural Environment

· National Forest - Support the National Forest Company to deliver the Heart of the Forest Masterplan

· Visitor Economy Action Plan – The creation and implementation of a Visitor Economy Action Plan