£6.5 million boost for Colne town centre
£6.5 million from round one of the Levelling Up Fund will boost Colne town centre and the local community. The package of projects will help Colne recover from the pandemic.
Colne Heritage Quarter
The funding will support key renovations to the town’s 3 theatres:
- Colne Little Theatre
- Pendle Hippodrome
- The Muni Theatre
The former Derby Arms pub will be incorporated into Pendle Hippodrome.
A single storey building will be added to Colne Little Theatre with:
- a new social space
- refreshments area
- a box office
All theatres will be made fully accessible.
Pendle Leisure Trust’s opinion
Alison Goode, Chief Executive of Pendle Leisure Trust is leading Colne Heritage Quarter theatres project. She said:
This funding is a lifeline for the long-term sustainability of three important cultural venues in Colne: the Muni Theatre, Pendle Hippodrome and the Little Theatre, making them fit for purpose, fully accessible for everyone in the community, especially for people with disabilities, and for increasing visitors into Colne.
The investment will bring new vitality to Colne and Pendle as one of the areas in the country hardest hit by the pandemic. It will help Pendle’s community to engage far more in arts, culture, and heritage for a better quality of life.
Upgrading the bus network
Investment into the local bus network will:
- improve journey experience
- encourage sustainable travel
Colne Market Hall
Colne Market Hall will be redeveloped to:
- provide traders and shoppers with a better visitor experience
- offer businesses improved retail units
- deliver housing for town centre living
Councillor Nadeem Ahmed, Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said the investment will “revitalise Colne, with substantial wider benefits … [and] make a big difference to people across Pendle and beyond.”
Find out more about levelling up.