Kirkby’s £20million plan approved

The first projects funded by Kirkby’s £20million Pride in Place fund will be coming to life in the next few months, now that the government has approved the investment plan. 

After receiving the news in 2023 that Kirkby would be awarded £20million over ten years, Ashfield District Council set up the Kirkby Neighbourhood  Board - made up of residents, local Councillors, representatives from voluntary, education, business, and healthcare sectors and the local MP – to put together a plan and vision for the future of Kirkby. The Council has been supporting the board since this time to undertake consultation with local residents and organisations to understand what matters most to them and the result is the Kirkby Plan which will be published in the coming weeks.  

The funding will pay for multiple projects over the next ten years and there are currently around 40 initiatives that cover the high street, heritage and regeneration, work, productivity and skills, unity, health and wellbeing, transport, safety and security, and education and opportunity, being explored. 

The following three schemes have been approved by the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board and will now progress: 

·       Digital Inclusion – Every student starting Year 10 in September 2026 will be given a Chromebook as part of a two-year pilot at Outwood Academy to support them through Years 10 and 11, as well as into further education and employment. This is an investment into the students themselves, rather than the school, opening digital opportunities for young people that need it the most.

·       Morvern Park PlayZone - Creating a safe, accessible, all‑weather multi‑use games area to support increased activity levels, health inequalities and limited youth provision.

·       Titchfield Park – Provide a new pavilion for the bowls, football and netball clubs which regularly use the site, upgrading the existing netball courts with new surfacing and energy efficient floodlights and general improvements which include resurfacing of footpaths.  

Cllr Matthew Relf, Executive Lead Member for Growth, Regeneration and Local Planning, said:

“This investment plan for Kirkby is a real joint effort between the Council and the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to put together a vision we can all be proud of. The range of proposals are vast and cover all areas that residents and businesses have told us they are concerned about. 

“Our vision is to make Kirkby a great place for everyone. We want it to be a fun, safe, and happy place to live, work, learn and play. By working together and listening to our community, we can help people do well, feel proud, and enjoy life —now and in the future.”

Martin Rigley, OBE, the chair of the neighbourhood board said

“The Neighbourhood Board has been working extremely hard for the past 18 months to get the plan and vision ready for approval. Now that the government have given us the green light we are excited to see schemes come to life. We will continue to collaborate with the Council on the rest of the ideas to make sure they fit what our community told us they want to see for the future of Kirkby.” 

Any of the projects must achieve one of the government’s three aims: building stronger communities, creating thriving places, and helping communities to take back control of their own lives and areas.

This news follows the recent announcement that Westville, Hucknall, has also been award £20million from the Pride in Place fund.

Posted on 26 March 2026