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Lyceum Square to reopen with stunning launch event

Crewe’s Lyceum Square has been transformed into an exciting events and performance space and the site is ready to host a brilliant range of activities in the summer season.

The scheme – called Ly2 – sees the centre of Lyceum Square becoming a mixed-use space to host events, festivals, performances, and activities throughout the year.

Ly2  launches on Saturday 24 June with exciting performances from national dance circus company, Motionhouse, fresh from featuring at the National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome event in Liverpool.

You can catch performances of Motionhouse’s daring outdoor show, ‘Wild’ at 2pm and 4.45pm on the day. Both performances are free to attend and are not ticketed. The shows are suitable for all audiences.

As well as a new raised events stage with an integrated digital screen, the new Ly2 scheme includes colourful and multi-functional street furniture and improvements to key gateways into the square.

The improvements have included the installation of an eagle mural which has been applied to the southern market shed known as ‘Crewe Central’ operated by the Crewe Market Hall team. The eagle sits next to floor art on the Northern market shed designs, which has also recently been completed.

Councillor Nick Mannion, vice chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said: “It is really exciting to see this project come to fruition. This space lends itself so well to a really broad range and diversity of arts events.

“Being able to open now is another big boost to Crewe, as it keeps up the positive momentum built by the revamped Market Hall and also dovetails nicely with a fantastic programme of events that is already being provided by the Lyceum Theatre.

“It’s also important to add that this isn’t just about the here and now though. As we’re approaching high summer, we are of course focusing our attention on an events and activity programme that takes us right through to September, but our commitment to Ly2 will extend well beyond that.”

Doug Kinsman, chair of Crewe Town Board, said: “Ly2 is here to stay, and I’m thrilled to see how this space will really connect our communities and provide opportunities to step up our arts scene in Crewe another notch. I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating – this is a transformative project for Crewe’s town centre.”

The vision for Ly2 was developed by the Crewe Cultural Forum – a collaboration of more than 100 residents, organisations and businesses in Crewe – and it aims to enhance the setting of the Lyceum Theatre and Crewe Market Hall and create a cultural heart for the town centre.

Highways works are continuing as part of the programmed multi-phased approach, which includes Hill Street and part of Heath Street. This will involve installation of final materials and imprinting of the junction and will be completed later this summer.

Later this summer there will also be a more formal launch of the scheme.

Crewe Town Board was allocated £750,000 from the government’s Accelerated Towns Fund for an improvement scheme for the Lyceum Square and adjacent areas. The project is also supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Crewe Town Council.

The Ly2 project was delivered by Cheshire East Council and overseen by Crewe Town Board with Crewe Town Council and Lyceum Theatre also key partners.

Crewe Town Board:

Crewe Town Board is made up of a team of representatives from the community, public, private and voluntary sectors.

As well as overseeing the Towns Fund bid, the board is helping to oversee the delivery of other projects already in the pipeline, including the town centre’s regeneration and HS2 hub station, to ensure all are aligned to the same vision.

Towns Fund – Town Deals:

On 27 July 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the Towns Fund would support an initial 101 places across England to develop Town Deal proposals, to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth.

A Town Deal is an agreement in principle between government, the lead council and the Town Deal Board. It will set out a vision and strategy for the town, and what each party agrees to do to achieve this vision.

Each of the 101 towns selected to work towards a Town Deal also received accelerated funding for investment in capital projects that would have an immediate impact and help places “build back better” in the wake of Covid-19. View a list of accelerated funding by place: 

towns-fund-accelerated-funding-grants.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Northern Powerhouse:

Some Northern Powerhouse key facts:

• The Northern Powerhouse is a key aspect of this Government’s approach to addressing the productivity gap in the North and ensuring a stronger, more sustainable economy for all parts of the UK.

• The government has awarded £3.4bn in three rounds of Growth Deals across the Northern Powerhouse.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund:

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

Pictured - Performers of ‘Wild’ on raised platforms.

(Photo credit - Dan Tucker)

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