£18m for our high streets
CALDERDALE COUNCIL is to receive £18m from the Government to transform the borough’s high streets.
Halifax will be given £11,762,823 and Elland is getting £6,310,812.
The cash is from the Future High Streets Fund, and will help support areas to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, helping to transform underused town centres into vibrant places to live, work, visit and shop.
Halifax MP Holly Lynch said: “High streets have faced overwhelming pressures in recent months and although this money falls short of what Calderdale Council bid for, it is very welcome and will help support the council’s ambitious plans for further regeneration of our town centre.
“Councils were invited to bid for this fund prior to the pandemic and whilst it will give the green light to making the town centre a more attractive, cleaner, safer space for shoppers and tourists, as well as the redevelopment of places like the iconic Borough market, this cannot be an alternative to the sector support the businesses on our high streets now desperately need to make it through the crisis.”
The money allocated to Calderdale is part of a £96.2m package for the Yorkshire and Humber region.
Minister for High Streets, Kelly Tolhurst, said: “Yorkshire and the Humber has a rich industrial and commercial heritage which the Future
High Streets Fund is set to help them to protect and celebrate.
“With a confirmed investment of over £15 million and further provisional offers of up to £80 million, bold proposals to reinvigorate the region’s high streets can be brought to life, making them once again the beating heat of their communities.”
The Future High Streets Fund was launched in December 2018.
It is a key part of the government’s plan to renew and reshape town centres around the country. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “The role of high street has always evolved.
“We want to support that change and make sure that they are the beating heart of their local community – with high quality housing and leisure in addition to shops and restaurants.