UK’s 72 high street areas to get a boost with £830 Mn funding from Future High Streets Fund
09 January 2021: In a major boost for local high streets, up to £830 million from the Future High Streets Fund will be invested in 72 areas across England, as announced by Robert Jenrick, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, UK. This is to support areas to recover from the pandemic and help transform underused town centres into vibrant places to live, work and shop. This ambitious plan will help protect and create thousands of jobs as part of the levelling up agenda.
The funding will enable the delivery of ambitious regeneration plans, drawn up by places, and fund new local projects such as improvements to transport infrastructure, new homes and the transformation of underused spaces. This funding is part of wider support the government is providing to communities and businesses, to protect jobs, support the most vulnerable and ensure no one is left behind as we tackle the COVID-19 pandemic head on.
Confirmed plans include: Support the delivery of 186 new homes, road safety improvements and a permanent new space for the historic market in Birkenhead; boost Worcester town centre by renovating the Scala Theatre and Corn Exchange, transforming underused space to create new homes for first time buyers and improving connectivity; modernise its town centre, including a new public transport hub and improved cycle and pedestrian routes.
Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said “Today’s £830 million investment from the Future High Streets Fund is one of many ways the government is working to help our much-loved town centres get through this and prosper into the future.”
“This investment will help us build back better and make town centres a more attractive place to live, work and visit,” he added.
The Future High Streets Fund was launched in December 2018 and is a key part of the government’s plan to renew and reshape town centres – making them a more attractive place to live, work and visit. £107 million of the Future High Streets Fund has been allocated to DCMS to support the regeneration of heritage high streets.
