Set up in March 2011, the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund (OLF) is £50 million of funding, in two rounds, aimed at those London Boroughs not benefitting directly from CrossRail or the 2012 London Olympics. The money comes from the winding-down of the London Development Agency.
The first round of bidding, for a total of £10 million, is intended to provide immediate access to funds for quick-to-deliver projects to improve high streets and neighbouring areas towards Christmas and into the New Year. Thirty projects in twenty boroughs received funding.
In this round, Harrow Council was awarded £496,000 for Harrow town centre and £360,400 towards the regeneration of North Harrow Shopping District. These are provisional awards and subject to a grant agreement. Full details of conditions attached are therefore not yet known but the money must be spent – or at least allocated – by March 2012.
The council is currently working on a bid for a second round of awards, for a total fund of £40 million, aimed at longer-term large-scale capital projects running up to 2014. These will be allocated later this year.
Initial proposals for North Harrow’s first-round award include events between Hallowe’en and Christmas centred on late-night opening of local shops with street decorations and music and the launch of a North Harrow business directory and website.
In the longer term, the council is looking at making improvements to parking in the area.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00
