Southport is among over 100 towns in England which will be given up to £1million to kick start regeneration projects and give areas a boost, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced today (Friday 25 September).
This funding, which ranges from £500,000 up to £1 million per town, will be used to support projects that will make a difference to the area, such as new green spaces, the creation of pop-up businesses spaces, pedestrianising streets to encourage walking or cycling and creating of new community hubs to support those living alone.
Southport has been awarded £1million to support its Southport Town Deal ambitions.
This will be split between £900,000 for the transformation of Southport Indoor Market into a stylish new food, drink and entertainments hub. Work is due to start later this year with the new-look venue expected to be open in April next year.
A further £100,000 has been provided for match funding with Southport Business Improvement District (Southport BID) to provide new decorative lighting along Lord Street.
Elesewhere in the UK, projects such as Burton on Trent’s High Street regeneration, for which the town has been awarded £750,000, will see improvements to make the high street a more pleasant place to visit with new bus access and cycle lanes so the public can more easily visit.
In Newcastle-under-Lyne, the £1 million funding will boost the town’s regeneration plans, helping to demolish unloved buildings to make way for a new chapter in the town’s history.
Southport MP Damien Moore said: “I welcome the Government’s continuing investment in Southport, which will now allow these two local projects to go ahead.
“The Southport Town Deal investment programme continues, with the aim of securing £25million investment for Southport.
“This funding will kickstart regeneration in our town with the ambition of attracting further private investment.”
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Our Towns Fund will help to share prosperity across the country and level-up. This £80 million funding for immediate investment is a real boost for our towns and will help them thrive with investment in transport, technology, skills and culture.
It will give towns across the opportunity to drive economic growth and improve prospects for their communities, which will be vital as the country respond to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. We are fully behind our high streets and will support local areas to build back better.”
This investment will give areas in all corners of England the opportunity to drive economic growth and improve prospects for their communities, which will be vital as the country continues to respond to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
These funds are part of the overall £3.6 billion Towns Fund money allocated - with this initial pot shared out now to get some projects off the ground and give local areas the boost they need. All 101 towns selected to work towards a Town Deal were given a funding allocation with proposals submitted to the MCHLG in August, before being reviewed by officials and a final decision made by ministers.
Town Deals build directly on the Government’s commitment to decentralising funding and decisions away from Whitehall and investing in the growth of local economies and devolving powers through ambitious City and Growth Deals, providing more than £9 billion of funding to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and introducing 8 metro mayors in England.
The Government is working with councils and LEPs to create better transport links, more connectivity and world-class education opportunities across the country.