Over a hundred towns in England to share £80m to boost regeneration from the government to help them to ‘build back better’
The government funding, which ranges from £500,000 up to £1m per town, will be used to support projects that will make a difference to the area.
These include creating new green spaces, the creation of pop-up businesses spaces, pedestrianising streets to encourage walking or cycling and creating new community hubs to support those living alone.
Projects such as Burton on Trent’s High Street regeneration, for which the town has been awarded £750,000, will see improvements to make the high street a more pleasant place to visit with new bus access and cycle lanes so the public can more easily visit.
In Newcastle-under-Lyme, the £1m government funding will boost the town’s regeneration plans, helping to demolish unloved buildings to make way for a new chapter in the town’s history.
This investment will give areas in all corners of England the opportunity to drive economic growth and improve prospects for their communities, which will be vital as the country continues to respond to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Investing in communities
Communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: “Our Towns Fund will help to share prosperity across the country and level-up.
“This £80m funding for immediate investment is a real boost for our towns and will help them thrive with investment in transport, technology, skills and culture.
“It will give towns across the opportunity to drive economic growth and improve prospects for their communities, which will be vital as the country respond to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are fully behind our high streets and will support local areas to build back better.”
The Towns Fund
These funds are part of the overall £3.6bn Towns Fund money allocated – with this initial pot shared out now to get some projects off the ground and give local areas the boost they need.
All 101 towns selected to work towards a Town Deal were given a funding allocation with proposals submitted to the MHCLG in August, before being reviewed by officials and a final decision made by ministers.
Town Deals build directly on the government’s commitment to decentralising funding and decisions away from Whitehall and investing in the growth of local economies and devolving powers through ambitious City and Growth Deals, providing more than £9bn of funding to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and introducing 8 metro mayors in England.
The government is working with councils and LEPs to create better transport links, more connectivity and world-class education opportunities across the country.
