Decision details

The decision has been made to make Round Three awards of UKSPF funding to the following projects in Boston:

Investment in Boston’s Christmas Lights (£50,000)
Funding for the purchase and installation of a refreshed and revitalised set of Christmas lights for Boston Town Centre, with a focus on promoting and celebrating the town at Christmas. The lights installed will be more efficient and will have significantly lower energy consumption. The display will be impressive, drawing visitors and residents alike to the town centre. These will be supported by a future celebration event to promote Boston and the town centre’s Christmas offer. It will also be supported by a significant contribution from the Council of at least £30,000.

Investment in the Freiston We’ll Meet Again Museum (£35,000)
A project to purchase a life-sized Hurricane replica for the Freiston We’ll Meet Again Museum, supported by a substantial programme of events targeted at increasing visitor numbers across Boston Borough. The Hurricane and associated events will develop the collection at the museum, as well as associated footfall and will also tour across the borough, with a focus on developing the public’s understanding of the borough’s unique role on the Second World War and the county’s illustrious aviation heritage. This will also be supported by a private sector contribution of at least £25,000.

Investment in the Boston Woods Trust (£60,000)
A significant investment to support the development of a new nature reserve in Boston, at Dion’s Wood. This includes investment in new car parking surfaces, new footpaths, information boards and biodiversity (via additional plating and greenery).

These projects sit separate to the ringfenced funding available to village halls, parish councils and community spaces (administered by LCF), which will be determined by the end of July. These projects are also separate to the monies ringfenced for grants to businesses (Grants 4 Growth II).


As part of HMG’s Levelling Up Agenda and in line with the commitments made by Boston Borough in the UKSPF Prospectus and Investment Plan, we have committed to invest in high-impact projects across three core themes:

• Communities and place - Supporting community groups and investment in community facilities; enhancing the cultural and heritage offer; widening the use of community buildings; initiatives to help support our town centres.
• Supporting local business - Helping local businesses invest for future growth; growing the food processing, horticulture and logistics sector; encouraging new businesses to establish; helping the local social and community enterprises to innovate and grow.
• People and skills - Developing skills and employment opportunities within the fresh food, food processing and logistics sectors; creating new training hubs; supporting local residents with skills and access to employment.

These allocations principally meet the objectives that we have committed to under the Communities and Place and Supporting Local Businesses Themes and with the projects passing a rigorous assessment process. We are confident that they can deliver the outcomes expected from the Programme quickly and substantively. This has been the basis of the decision.

This involves the disbursement of UK Shared Prosperity/Rural Prosperity Funding in Boston Borough, with the allocation of funds per project being as follows:
• Investment in Boston’s Christmas Lights Display - £50,000
• Investment in the Freiston We’ll Meet Again Museum - £35,000
• Investment in the Boston Woods Trust - £60,000

These funds were allocated on a competitive basis, based on the third round of submitted Expressions of Interest and Full Applications to the UK Shared Prosperity and Rural Prosperity Fund. The alternative would be to not award the funding, which would bring severe reputational risk to the Council both with the public and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.