Labour MP Baggy Shanker has welcomed £20 million of long-term government investment for New Normanton in Derby South, saying local residents will be at the heart of deciding how the money is spent.
The funding comes through Labour's Pride in Place programme, which provides selected communities with up to £20 million over 10 years to improve neighbourhoods, strengthen community facilities and support locally determined priorities. New Normanton is one of 284 communities across the country included in the programme.
Shanker said:
"We all look around our local area and spot things that need attention. With £20 million in Pride in Place funding from the Government, we can now crack on and make those improvements."
He added that the money could support better public spaces and community facilities, more opportunities for young people and other priorities identified by residents.
Local people to decide priorities
A new New Normanton Pride in Place Board has been established to oversee the investment, with local resident Mike Ainsley appointed as its independent chair.
The board also includes residents, community representatives, local businesses, councillors and Shanker as the constituency MP. Derby City Council will act as the accountable body for the funding.
Shanker said:
"Residents know what works, what is missing and where the money could have the greatest impact."
He added:
"That's why the Government is not only providing the funding but also putting the power to decide how it is spent where it belongs: in the hands of local people."
Mike Ainsley to chair new board
Ainsley has a long record of involvement in housing and community organisations in Derby.
He spent 15 years on the board of Derwent Living and served on the Derby Homes Board from 2011, including almost a decade as chair. He is also involved with local cultural and community organisations.
Ainsley said the investment represented a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" for New Normanton and said he wanted the board to develop a shared vision for sustained improvement.
"Together we can establish a shared vision and key priorities to bring about sustained change so that we can all say, 'We are Proud of Normanton'."
Ten years of investment
The Pride in Place programme is designed around long-term investment rather than one-off projects.
Each selected phase-two community can receive up to £20 million in funding and support, split between capital investment and revenue funding over the decade.
Government guidance says neighbourhood boards must work with local residents to draw up a Pride in Place Plan reflecting genuine community priorities. Funding can be used for measures including improving public spaces, strengthening community facilities, supporting high streets and creating opportunities for local people.
Next step: residents have their say
The New Normanton board will now begin wider engagement with residents and community organisations before developing a medium-term investment plan for submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in winter 2026-27.
Shanker said he wanted the process to turn residents' ideas into visible improvements:
"I'm looking forward to hearing people's ideas and turning them into changes we can all see and enjoy in our everyday lives."
For New Normanton, the £20 million programme represents a significant opportunity for residents themselves to shape a decade of investment in their neighbourhood - with decisions on priorities intended to be made locally rather than imposed from Whitehall.
