From Liz Waugh, Exeter 383578, January 29, 2007

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF IVYBRIDGE TOWN

A new state of the art library and community resource centre is planned for Ivybridge after the final funding arrangements were agreed today.

£4.1m is being invested in the landmark building by a partnership including three tiers of local government. An initial pledge of £1.9m from Devon County Council has been matched with £760,000 from Ivybridge Town Council, £470,000 from South Hams District Council, £400,000 from Devon Renaissance, which is funded by the South West RDA, £200,000 of European Regional Development Funding from the South West Objective 2 Programme and £260,000 from other sources.

The new centre will be built at Erme Court in the town centre, and will provide a brand new library equipped with an IT Centre, caf, one stop information shop, conference and meeting spaces among other facilities. It will also house 16 business incubation units, training and other business support services, bringing in vital revenue that will help to make the centre sustainable.  

The Market and Coastal Towns Initiative originally proposed the concept of a centre in 2003. Ivybridge Town Council began working on the plan with Devon Re-Investment Service, part of Devon County Council, in 2004 creating the groundwork for the innovative building plan and establishing financial support in the region.

Councillor Marc Chapman, Mayor of Ivybridge, said: "This is a huge triumph for Ivybridge, only made possible by support of many agencies working together. Ensuring sustainability for the project has been critical, as without continued investment and support the project would not have been viable.

"I am also personally thrilled - it is the realisation of a long held ambition for me. After 3 years of hard work, the concept is finally a reality. It will bring widespread benefits for the whole community in Ivybridge, create 36 new jobs, generate income for businesses in the area and support emerging businesses too. It's a fantastic achievement."

Councillor Humphrey Temperley, Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Regional Affairs for Devon County Council, said: "The new centre will be a focal point for the town, and bring much needed services and facilities into the business community. Devon County Council has invested significant time and resources into this project because of its great potential and the impact it will have on rural regeneration and the local economy.

"We are also delighted that the new build will use environmentally sustainable building methods, as making Devon greener is a key priority for the County Council. The plans have been created in consultation with the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment, and are classed by BREEAM as very good, which is encouraging."

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council member for Ivybridge and aSouth Hams District Councillor, said: "This is a major requirement and good news for Ivybridge. It has come about as a result of a lot of hard work by a number of people and is a classic example of three tiers of local government working together as a team. The Library is long overdue and the business incubation units will be aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at women returners who sometimes find it hard to return to a fast changing business environment after bringing up children.

"The various elements, brought together under one roof, could provide a life-changing experience for some residents and visitors - the project will be the centre piece of what is fast becoming the model of a modern market town." 

Cllr Mike Saltern, South Hams District Council, said: "I am delighted that this long-held aspiration will at last become a reality for Ivybridge. Ivybridge's library was too small and proposals for a new larger facility, first put forward in the 1990s, became a prominent feature of the Ivybridge Master Plan document subsequently produced by the town's Regeneration Group. The new library, the business opportunities and the centre's other features will combine to breathe new life into the main shopping area for the benefit of the whole Ivybridge community."

Robin Makeig-Jones, programme manager for Devon Renaissance, said: "Devon Renaissance, supported by the South West RDA, have worked hard with Ivybridge to make this project come to life, and we will continue to support them to ensure the successful implementation of the project."

Steve Humphreys, Rural Objective 2 Priority Manager from Government Office South West, said: " The Objective 2 Programme is pleased to be able to provide funding for this exciting new multi-use facility which will inject new life into Ivybridge town centre. European Regional Development Funding will be specifically supporting the business units and will provide the opportunity for local people to establish new enterprises in a supportive environment, and without the need to travel."

Work on the project is expected to commence in April 2007 and be completed by March 2008.

NOTES TO EDITORS

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Representatives from the funding bodies will be available for interview and photography on Monday 29 January on site at Erme Court, Ivybridge at midday. They will be turning over the first turf.

For more information, please contact Adrian Lane at the Media and PR office on 01392 383578/3290