Multi-million-pound boost for northern high streets
Political correspondent
HIGH STREETS in northern and Midlands towns are to get a multi-millionpound boost as part of a £1billion fund to “level up” dilapidated town centres.
As part of the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, 14 out of 20 pilot areas will receive the first round of funding, together with advice on how best to develop their individual high street.
Salford’s Swinton town centre, Stirchley in Birmingham and Huyton town centre in Knowsley are among some of the first that will receive “bespoke support and guidance” as part of the new High Streets Task Force, following recommendations by an expert panel on the high street, which was chaired by Sir John Timpson of the Timpson shoe repair chain.
The force, which will be rolled out across the country next year, will provide face-to-face support, access to new research, new online training and access to local footfall data.
Robert Jenrick, the Communities Secretary, said the Government’s investment in the UK’S high streets would help them “to adapt and evolve while remaining vibrant and safe places at the heart of our communities”.
He added: “Having announced the first 101 high streets that can benefit from £25million each back in the summer, I am announcing support from our new High Streets Task Force for a further 20 places and naming 14 of these today.
“The Task Force will provide the tools they need to get the best advice possible and a dashboard of key local data.”
Mr Jenrick said central to the Government’s
mission was the “levelling up of towns and regions, ensuring prosperity and opportunity are available to everyone”.
“Over the course of 2020, we will invest hundreds of millions into projects to transform our town centres and support bespoke plans to meet the needs of individual local communities,” he said.
The announcement comes after the Government announced 100 places that would each receive up to £25million as part of its £3.6 billion Towns Fund earlier this year.