North Somerset Council’s ambitions for the Tropicana have moved a step closer this week following news that the council’s bid for £1.1m from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund has reached the final shortlist of projects.

If successful, the funding will enable the council to establish The Tropicana as a regional year-round arts, creative and entertainment hub, offering a diverse and successful range of theatre, music, educational and events programming, alongside seasonal attractions.

The funding would pay for:

– an indoor event, performance, education and rehearsal space with a capacity of up to 1,000
– retractable raked seating, staging, sound and lighting
– a modern, sustainable roof
– an enclosed outdoor arena with a capacity of up to 9,000
– space for workshops and studios for creative professionals
– improved café facilities and a cycle hire centre connecting the Tropicana to the England Coast Path.

As well as the physical improvements, initial estimates suggest that the project would also create 60 new jobs and 10 apprenticeships with an added value of £2.2m a year to the local economy.

The council’s bid is understood to be one of about 60 projects from across the country which have made it through to the final round and all are now required to prepare a full detailed bid by the New Year. The government has already funded £6m of projects from the £40m available overall, and North Somerset Council is hoping for a share of the remaining £34m. The council expects to learn whether the final bid has been successful in the spring of 2019.

The Coastal Communities Fund was established to support coastal projects in the UK to deliver sustainable growth and jobs.