Lincoln’s impressive regeneration programme has attracted interest from counterparts in the West Midlands, with an 18-strong delegation touring the city earlier this week looking at best practice (Monday 16th March).
The group of managers from North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership spent the day with City of Lincoln Council learning about its close relationship with the University of Lincoln and the council’s regeneration programme.
The visitors were also given a guided tour of the Think Tank, Lincoln’s latest managed workspace for innovative businesses, and a prime example of the council’s forward thinking approach to improving the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the local community.
As well as looking round the £7.1m complex, which opens for businesses in April, the delegation also toured Lincoln’s city centre.
Rob Smith, Business Services Team Leader at the City of Lincoln Council, who hosted the visited along with colleagues from the University, said: “The team from Regeneration West Midlands are researching best practice in terms of relationships between local authorities and universities. Whilst they were here we took the opportunity to show them Lincoln’s latest example of regeneration, the Think Tank. The building, which offers 21 offices and nine workspaces, has revitalised the site, which was formerly a derelict industrial site and shows perfectly how the City of Lincoln Council approaches regeneration.”
Conrad Parke from Regeneration West Midlands who organized the visit was impressed with the venue and Lincoln as a whole. “I always love coming to Lincoln and today we learnt a great deal about how having a close working relationships with the academic institutions can benefit the wider community, including businesses. The Think Tank, adjacent to the university, is really impressive and I’m sure the businesses that move in will benefit from the innovative, high tech environment.”
-ENDS-
Issued on behalf of the Think Tank by Lava. For further information please contact Matt or Louise at Lava on 01522 842 800 or matt@lavapr.co.uk / louise@lavapr.co.uk.
Note to editors:
1. The Think Tank required an investment of £7.1m to bring the vision to fruition: Objective 2 European Regional Development Fund contributed £4,094,003; Lincolnshire Enterprise and the East Midlands Development Agency contributed £4,608,110 whilst the City Council and County Council are providing £1,150,000 between them.
