Future High Streets Fund expanded to help 50 more areas

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Aug 28, 2019

After seeing a “huge” interest from local areas, the UK government has expanded the Future High Streets Fund to £1 billion to support an additional 50 towns.

This means that the scheme, launched in December 2018, will give a total of 100 towns across England funding to reinvent their high streets.

Successful applicants will receive up to £150,000 that could be used to improve transport and access into town centres, convert empty retail units, and invest in vital infrastructure.

Prime Minister Boris 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 re-energise and transform even more of our high streets – helping them to attract new businesses, boost local growth, and create new infrastructure and jobs."

Fifty areas have already been shortlisted to develop plans to reinvent their high streets in local authorities including Plymouth, Dover, Carlisle, Worcester, Portsmouth, Southampton and Greenwich.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: "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."

The government is also working on a number of other measures to support the high street, including the creation of the High Streets Task Force to support local leaders in delivering their plans.