Mason Moore | Hinckey Reporter | 8 April 2023

NUNEATON has been named as the town offering ‘the best ecomic opportunities’ in the entirety of the United Kingdom this year.

That is according to Lambert Smith Hampton’s highly-respected expert report, the 2023 UK Vitality Index, which is an annual health assessment of the UK’s largest towns and cities outside London.

The report includes an ‘Opportunity Ranking’ – and the list is topped by Nuneaton this year, ahead of St. Helens, Wigan, Telford, and Wakefield.

The town is also benefitting from the Transforming Nuneaton programme, delivered by Warwickshire County Council and the borough council, which is a suite of projects designed to provide Nuneaton with the economic boost it needs and help it become a strong hub for its community.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council Leader, Coun. Kris Wilson, said: “It is fantastic news that Nuneaton is recognised nationally as the place to invest for the second year running, and proves that we are the on the right track in regenerating Nuneaton.

“With joint funding from both the Borough and County Councils, together with successful bids to the Future High Streets Fund and Towns Fund, alongside the Transforming Nuneaton Programme, we have many exciting plans in the pipeline and much to look forward to.

“Most recently we have seen our landmark 2.3-hectare Grayson Place development on Abbey Street gathering pace. Set to become a new focal point for the town, the venue will bring new leisure and culture facilities, creating jobs, homes and boosting economic growth.

“Nuneaton has such a fantastic wealth of economic potential, and we are so pleased to say that we are well on the path to unlocking this.”

The Transforming Nuneaton project will also focus on helping to diversify the offering in the town centre itself, recognising the town needs to evolve to meet the needs of our future communities.

It will create opportunities for new businesses by opening up new office spaces, growing the leisure offer, specifically at the rayson Place development, so people have new reasons to come to town.

In addition, a new hotel and learning space have been planned, as have new residential schemes, and even plans to improve local infrastructure to help the town grow.

Funding has been secured by all of the involved councils, from Government and internal capitval investment, to help drive the Transforming Nuneaton programme further.

Marcus Jones, Nuneaton MP, said: “It is great to see Nuneaton is the United Kingdom’s best town for economic opportunities. Exciting times as it is transformed thanks to investment from national government, local authorities and the private sector. Proud history, bright future.”