Council given more time to send levelling-up plans

An update to the proposed plans includes improvement work to The Swan Theatre

Worcester City Council will have more time to submit plans for how it intends to spend £5m of government levelling-up funding after the deadline was moved.

A council spokesperson told the BBC that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities had initially given it a deadline of 10 May to submit its spending plans.

But an update issued by the local authority on Wednesday now states the deadline has been moved to 3 June.

The council spokesperson said: "As a result, the Policy and Resources Committee has agreed to develop all the proposed projects further, for scrutiny at its next meeting on 21 May, prior to the final bid submission being produced."

Worcester City Council has already revealed it hopes to spend £50,000 of the funding on a "new national monument" to commemorate the Battle of Worcester.

The initial proposal also included plans for the following:

• £1.6m to create space for more events and exhibitions at the Corn Exchange

• £900,000 to create a sustainable events venue at Pitchcroft with improved access, better security and standing facilities, plus power and water

• £742,000 to refurbish the Grade II listed Gheluvelt Park bandstand and build new performance and family social spaces at Cripplegate Park

The Swan Theatre has now also been added to places expected to benefit from the funding.

According to documents put before Tuesday's Policy and Resources Committee, £155,000 of the levelling-up cash is planned to be allocated.

This will be used to improve accessibility at the theatre, including the installation of a new lift, an accessible toilet and changing facilities.

Improvements to the foyer are also planned.