Fifty towns in England will be given a share of £1bn to improve their struggling high streets. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the plans, the money will mean over a 100 high streets will be supported by the High Streets Fund.
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Across England 50 towns have been shortlisted to develop their high streets. The money could be used to improve transport and access to the town centres. convert empty retail units into new homes and workplaces and invest in vital infrastructure.
Mr Johnson said: “Our high streets are right at the heart of our communities, and I will do everything I can to make sure they remain vibrant places where people want to go, meet and spend their money.
“But with our town centres facing challenges, we’re today expanding the High Streets Fund to support over 100 high streets to regenerate – backed by £1 billion of vital investment.
“This scheme is going to reenergise and transform even more of our high streets – helping them to attract new businesses, boost local growth, and create new infrastructure and jobs.”
The 50 towns are:
- Dudley: Brierley Hill town centre
- Barrow: Barrow town centre
- Dover: Dover town centre and waterfront
- Plymouth: Plymouth city centre
- South Gloucestershire: Kingswood
- Warwick: Leamington town centre
- North Lincolnshire: Scunthorpe
- Blackpool: Blackpool town centre
- Fylde: Kirkham town centre
- Halton: Runcorn Old Town
- Torridge: Bideford
- North Devon: Barnstaple
- Ashfield: Sutton
- Teignbridge: Newton Abbot
- Barnsley: Barnsley town centre
- Portsmouth: Fratton
- Thanet: Ramsgate
- Calderdale: Elland town centre
- North East Lincolnshire: Grimsby town centre
- Rochdale: Rochdale town centre
- Southampton: Heart of the City Quarter
- Wiltshire: Salisbury city centre
- Newcastle-under-Lyme: Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre
- Doncaster: Doncaster Waterdale
- Hambleton: Northallerton
- South Kesteven: Grantham
- Redcar and Cleveland: Loftus
- Nuneaton and Bedworth: Nuneaton town centre
- Tamworth: Tamworth town centre
- Bolton: Bolton town centre
- Torbay: Paignton
- Scarborough: Scarborough town centre
- Carlisle: Carlisle city centre
- Worcester: Blackfriars – northern city centre
- Huntingdonshire: St Neots
- Northumberland: Blyth town centre
- Tendring: Clacton town centre
- Wiltshire: Trowbridge
- Rossendale: Bacup town centre
- Harrow: Wealdstone
- Portsmouth: Commercial Road
- Thurrock: Grays town centre
- South Holland: Holbeach
- Harlow: Harlow town centre
- Wandsworth: Putney town centre
- Wycombe: High Wycombe
- Forest of Dean: Cinderford town centre
- Allerdale: Maryport town centre
- Middlesbrough: Middlesbrough centre
- Greenwich: Woolwich town centre
Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “High streets have a crucial role to play as we work to grow the economy of all parts of the country.
“Our £1 billion Future High Streets Fund is key to delivering this, empowering local leaders to help transform their high streets and town centres as consumer habits change, by investing in housing, workplaces, infrastructure and culture.
“Interest in the Fund has been huge, and with so many strong applications, I am extending the number of towns moving forward to the next phase and getting a chance to develop their proposals.
“The government is going to level-up our regional economies and as Communities Secretary I am proud to be driving this agenda forward.”
