Residents and businesses in Loughborough are being encouraged to help a planned consultation on the Loughborough Town Deal.

The Loughborough Town Deal is an opportunity to secure up to £25 million of government funding to transform the town's economic growth and play a key role in recovery. It is being led by a range of partners including Charnwood Borough Council.

An investment plan is being drawn up which will set out a vision for building on the town's unique strengths and a consultation is planned for later this month.

People will be able to have a say in an online survey but the Council is also putting together online focus groups for residents and businesses. The Council is calling on people to sign up to take part.

At this stage, all people and businesses need to do is complete a short online form. The focus groups are due to take place between June 16 and 18.

To sign up to the focus groups, please visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/tdfg.

As part of the Loughborough Town Deal structure, there is also a community engagement and consultation group involving a range of stakeholders. They will also be part of the consultation.

The first phase of consultation for the Town Deal project was held earlier this year when people were asked for their views on what they thought made Loughborough great and what they thought needed improving.

Town Deal project manager Chris Grace said: "I would encourage people to get involved in the focus groups and consultation. It is important local people, businesses, stakeholders and partners help shape the future of Loughborough.

"The project has clearly been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, in particular our approach to consultation. We cannot hold face-to-face events as we had originally wanted to, but we are planning to do everything possible to engage with people and the use of online focus groups is a really good way to get views from people and businesses."

The Loughborough Town Deal Board involves representatives from Charnwood Borough Council, Loughborough University, Loughborough College, Love Loughborough, Leicestershire County Council, the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, Charnwood Together Economy and Skills Group, local businesses and Loughborough MP Jane Hunt.

The Board is co-chaired by Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, chief executive officer of Morningside Pharmaceuticals, and Cllr Jonathan Morgan, leader of Charnwood Borough Council.