Major financial boost for £1bn cyber development

The government has committed to providing £20m towards a £1bn cyber centre.

The Golden Valley Development will be built on land next to GCHQ in Cheltenham and aims to establish the town as the UK's cyber capital.

Cheltenham Borough Council had provisionally secured the funding in the third round of the previous government's Levelling Up Fund, but confirmation the money would be granted under the new government's plans came after the budget on 30 October.

The development is expected to create 12,000 new jobs and more than 1,000 homes.

The confirmation will allow the council to start drawing down the funding to continue to deliver the first phase of the development.

A letter from the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, said the government would protect Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government managed projects "announced in rounds one to three of the Levelling Up Fund, recognising that many of these projects will unlock vital local growth and regeneration across the country".

Leader of Cheltenham Borough Council, Rowena Hay, said: “(The centre) will be a national asset that has the potential to build on Cheltenham's place as a global leader in technology and security.

“Now we have confirmation we can continue to realise the vision and ambition of the Golden Valley Development and we look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to bring this transformative project to life.”

In June, developer Henry Boot confirmed architects Sheppard Robson will lead on the second phase of the scheme, designing two buildings.

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