Somerset Council is delighted to hear that the Government has awarded nearly £20 million for ToneWorks and Tone Dale project.

Somerset West and Taunton Council previously submitted bids to Round 1 and 2 of the Levelling Up Fund, from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Communities. This recent announcement has been awarded based on the Round 2 submission.
The £19,987,663 will provide an opportunity for Somerset Council working in partnership with stakeholders and the community, to transform and sustainably regenerate the nationally significant heritage site at Toneworks and enhance associated land for community use.

The Toneworks site, which is in Somerset Council ownership has already received funding from DCMS/Historic England from the Heritage Stimulus and Covid Cultural Recovery Fund for repairs since its acquisition in 2020. This has allowed decontamination, structural repairs, and vital stabilisation to the most vulnerable parts of the site.

Over summer and autumn of 2023, Somerset Council has welcomed over three hundred local people into the site on guided tours which have allowed a glimpse at the works that have been achieved to date. The tours were also an excellent opportunity together knowledge, memories and understanding about the history of the site from the community in and around Wellington.

The ambitious plan for Tonedale will restore and save a nationally important heritage site and a much-loved historic landmark.

Councillor Ros Wyke, Somerset Council Lead Member for Economy, Planning and Assets said:

We are extremely pleased that the importance of heritage of Wellington has been recognised, after the disappointment of Rounds 1 and 2.

Rebecca Pow, Member of Parliament for Taunton Deane said:

I am absolutely thrilled that the Government have just announced that nearly £20 million has been provisionally awarded for our application to the Levelling up Fund “Vision for Tonedale”, this ambitious plan will restore and save nationally important heritage sites; also much-loved historic landmarks.

I was disappointed at the beginning of this year that the application was unsuccessful in a previous funding round and I have been engaging with Ministers since then, making the case for this much needed investment.

I am so pleased that this has been addressed today with this announcement, bringing with it a range of economic opportunities. This is a perfect demonstration that the Government is fully committed to levelling up all parts of the country, including the South-West. Coming hot on the heels of the Wellington Rail station announcement; and my local campaign to complete the restoration of the Wellington Monument, this will be another huge boost to the town.

This funding has been awarded by the government and does not affect Somerset Councils’ financial emergency. The money can only be spent on this specific project and cannot be used for services that Somerset Council delivers. Somerset Council will not be making a financial contribution to this project.