AMBITIOUS plans to regenerate Crewe town centre have been signed off today (Thursday).

The government's Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has revealed seven areas of the North West have been given the green light to implement plans to improve their high streets and town centres as well as strengthen transport links and create jobs for local people.

Crewe is to receive £22.9 million of funding to complete a project list which includes the Lyceum Powerhouse, a music venue and space for creative industries, as well as the restoration of Crewe's former Flag Lane baths into a community hub.

Crewe Town Board was formed last year to draft a Town Investment Plan outlining the projects and initially bid for £25m of funding.

Today's announcement confirms a formal heads of terms offer which agrees funding conditional on the board completing a business case and submitting summary documents to government.

Across the country 101 Town Deals have been put in place. In the North West Crewe, Birkenhead, Crewe, Darwen, Nelson, Runcorn, St Helens and Millomall signed their final deal agreementstoday bringing the total Towns Fund investment in the North West to £486 million.

Among Crewe's other projects is a new Youth Zone sited at Oak Street car park with satellite facilities at Mirion Street on the site of the former Crewe Youth Centre.

The Valley Brook Green Corridor project aims to provide a green corridor into the town centre for cycling and walking.

The Cumberland Arena is also to be targeted for investment, including new spectator facilities while cash will be funnelled into making improvements at eight 'pocket parks'

Elsewhere in the region, at Runcorn the funding win of £23.6m will be used to invest turn empty high street shops into a Creative and Digital Skills Centre.

St. Helens' £25m allocation will deliver a medical glass research facility and in Birkenhead £25 million will be spent improving connectivity between the town centre and the Mersey waterfront.

The government says Town Deals support its commitment to level up across all areas of the country.

Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution Neil O'Brien said: "I'm thrilled that all 101 towns can now drive forward their plans to create more vibrant towns that people across the country are proud to call home.

"In Runcorn this will mean turning vacant buildings into places to live and work, while in Crewe plans will bring fresh opportunities for local people in the creative and digital arts.

"We're seeing this kind of innovation across the whole region, and with £486m of government backing we are delivering on our vision to level up the North West."