Innovative Loughborough project to create jobs and make people healthier

A multi-million investment project to transform Loughborough will see 11 projects worth over £40 million being delivered over the next few years.

One of the key projects of the investment will be the Healthy and Innovative Loughborough initiative. Linked to Loughborough University, the scheme aims to create jobs, support new businesses, and make local people healthier.

Funded by a £2.46 million grant from Loughborough Town Deal, the project will use Loughborough University’s reputation and expertise in sports, research, entrepreneurship, and knowledge creation across five key areas:

• Attract new sporting organisations to Loughborough.

• Support local people with business ideas, entrepreneurship and overall growth.

• Encourage local residents to live active and healthy lives. • Improve transport connectivity between the train station, town centre, and Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park.

• Measure the success of Town Deal projects to make sure they’re delivering real, measurable benefits to local people.

There are also five core projects which will support the development of new infrastructure and enhance the overall health and wellbeing of the community.

One of these is the Active Healthy Living Project, which focuses on research-based ways to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community in Loughborough by increasing engagement in physical activity.

The other four include an expansion of the university’s SportPark Pavilion 4; a new “Business Wayfinder” scheme; an “Impact Hub” which will help plan for future developments; and a project to improve transport connections around Loughborough.