CREWE Town Board is to press ahead with 10 regeneration projects with money won from the government's Towns Fund despite pressures triggered by a £2m shortfall.

The Board has revealed details of the 10 schemes that will be progressed, including the revamp of the former Flag Lane Baths and a new live music venue for the town called Lyceum Powerhouse.

It says that all 10 projects are those originally included in the 10-year Town Investment Plan, which was submitted to government in January as part of the funding bid.

Funding for the projects were under scrutiny as Crewe's funding allocation of £22.9m announced by the government in July was short of the £25m it bid for.

The bid included details of a package of 10 shortlisted projects to support Crewe's ongoing regeneration.

Minutes from the Town Board - which holds its meetings behind closed doors - stated that a consequence of the funding shortfall and the rising cost of raw materials meant spending on each project would have to be carefully scrutinised.

There were fears the Towns Fund money would not cover all of projects.

The Board was considering whether to proceed with all 10 or reduce the number of projects. Reducing the scope of the projects was also under consideration as the Board worked with Cheshire East Council to agree the final package of project.

Doug Kinsman, chair of Crewe Town Board, said: "Deciding which projects to progress has involved extensive consultation, time and effort and it is brilliant news that we are now in a position to announce further details, having submitted detailed documents to government earlier this week.

"But there is also still much that needs to be done before the final package of projects is decided, the funding is received and the physical work on the ground can begin."

The 10 projects going forward:

• Lyceum Powerhouse, a new live music venue with creative production facilities, which will deliver skills and development opportunities and provide space for creative enterprises.

• Flag Lane Baths Community Hub will see the transformation of the former town baths under the direction of the Always Ahead Charity. There will be an outdoor family zone, a community social enterprise café and restaurant, while ICT, training and employment support will be delivered.

* An improvement scheme for properties in Market Street, High Street and Edleston Road. Led by Crewe Town Council it includes a grant funding programme to support owners and tenants to refurbish derelict properties with vacant units targeted at small independent businesses and the upper floors converted to living space.

• The Valley Brook Green Corridor project to connect Queens Park to the town centre with an accessible green corridor for cycling and walking.

• A programme of improvements in eight 'pocket parks' to open up opportunities for people to get outdoors and stay active with games areas and outdoor gyms.

• The Cumberland Arena redevelopment to provide new studios and better changing facilities as well as improving the facilities for spectators.

• Mill Street Linear Park and Corridor will be a green pedestrian trail and 'active travel' route.

• Inner Crewe Warm and Healthy Homes programme will target older properties located in the centre of Crewe. It includes a grants scheme for homeowners to carry out improvement works and making homes more energy efficient.

• A new town centre-based Crewe Youth Zone, as well as an outdoor facility on the site of the former Crewe Youth Centre at Mirion Street. There will be a sports hall and multi-use 3G pitch, a climbing wall, fitness and dance studios, art space and a café.

• Crewe History Centre public space will see an area created around the £8m attraction at the former library. The history centre will co-host the region's archives in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council - its development is being funded separately from the Towns Fund.

Mr Kinsman added: "These projects demonstrate the opportunity available to make great strides in revitalising the town and we have reassessed how the funding can be allocated between all projects following the government's offer of £22.9m.

The next stage in the process is to ensure all the projects have detailed business cases prepared which demonstrate value for money and long-term viability. The board says "there is a lot of work to be done over the next 12 months to secure this funding from government".

Further engagement with local residents, businesses and organisations is planned before the projects are submitted to the government by next summer for agreement and sign off.

"It is only then that a final funding offer would be made by government and physical works on the projects can begin," added Mr Kinsman.

All the projects must be completed by March 2026.