Press release

More high streets set for funding boost as reopening accelerates

Further 57 English high streets to receive a share of over £830 million to improve transport links, build new homes and transform underused spaces.

From:
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018 to 2021) and The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP
Published
19 May 2021
This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
High street shoppers
  • Funding confirmed for a further 57 areas
  • In total, 72 high streets will share over £830 million to help them reopen and recover from the pandemic
  • Investment to help transform town centres into vibrant places to live, work and shop

More high streets will receive new money to improve transport links, build new homes and transform underused spaces in a key milestone for the government’s levelling up agenda.

In total, 72 English high streets – from Penzance to South Shields – will share over £830 million, with 57 of these areas announced today.

As pubs, cinemas, bowling alleys and more open up this week, this funding will provide a much-needed boost for towns as they safely welcome shoppers and visitors back to their high streets.

The funding is part of the government’s plan to protect, support and create thousands of jobs in a range of industries, delivering opportunities and prosperity to communities across England.

Confirmed plans include:

  • £17.28 million for Grimsby will create a new multiplex cinema and market food hall, which hopes to boost visitor numbers to the town centre. A new public square and events space will be created bringing more vitality and buzz to the high street.
  • £13.96 million investment for Taunton to build new homes, business spaces and hospitality venues, as well as an outdoor performance venue for events to boost visitor numbers.
  • £6.28 million for Sutton-in-Ashfield for the refurbishment of the Sutton Academy theatre space and repurposing of vacant retail space into offices and hospitality venues. A new pop-up food and events space as well as better pedestrian links will encourage more local people to visit the town centre for special events and festivals.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:

This funding is part of wider support we are providing to communities and businesses, to protect jobs, support the most vulnerable and ensure no one is left behind as we recover from pandemic.

This investment will make a huge difference to towns and cities across England and transform themselves in desired places to shop, visit, live and work.

The Future High Streets Fund will support towns, communities and businesses as we get back to enjoying the best of what the high street has to offer.

The Future High Streets Fund was launched in December 2018 and is a key part of this government’s plan to renew and reshape town centres – making them a more attractive place to live, work and visit.   It is just one of the ways the government is supporting the retail and hospitality sector.

Support for high streets

  • We launched the Welcome Back Fund in March 2021 to help councils boost tourism, improve green spaces and provide more outdoor seating areas, markets and food stall pop-ups – giving people more safer options to reunite with friends and relatives throughout the summer.
  • The High Street Homes Permitted Development Rights will make it easier for disused buildings to be repurposed and provide housing.
  • Providing restaurants, pubs and cafes with the freedom to offer takeaway services; and making it easier for businesses and communities to host markets and stalls so customers can be served safely.
  • A generous package of support to businesses and communities, with over £35 billion in financial support since the start of the pandemic.
  • Through the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund, the £220 million Community Renewal Fund and the £3.6 billion Towns Fund the government is investing in long-term infrastructure projects to level up our towns and rural areas and ensure the vitality of our town centres for years to come.
  • The government has published its response to the Parking Code Framework which will curb unfair tickets and tackle cowboy parking firms through a new, simplified appeals process. Caps on private parking fines for millions of motorists are also set to be introduced. This will give drivers more confidence in heading into town knowing they won’t be unfairly penalised by rogue operators.

Further information

The 57 places awarded funding today are:

  1. Leamington Town Spa, Warwick (Warwickshire) – £10,015,121
  2. Nuneaton Town Centre, Nuneaton and Bedworth (Warwickshire) – £13,331,637
  3. Wolverhampton City Centre – £15,760,196
  4. Walsall – £11,439,967
  5. Newcastle-Under-Lyme – £11,048,260
  6. Stafford – £14,377,723
  7. Tottenham, Haringey – £10,019,647
  8. Woolwich Town Centre, Greenwich – £17,150,964
  9. Wealdstone, Harrow – £7,448,583
  10. Putney Town Centre, Wandsworth – £1,058,706
  11. Elland Town Centre, Calderdale (West Yorkshire) – £6,310,812
  12. Northallerton, Hambleton (North Yorkshire) – £6,085,013
  13. Rotherham – £12,660,708
  14. Halifax – £11,762,823
  15. Barnsley Town Centre – £15,624,456
  16. Scunthorpe – £10,675,323
  17. New Ferry, Wirral – £3,213,523
  18. Wigan – £16,633,692
  19. Crewe – £14,148,128
  20. Rochdale (Greater Manchester) – £17,080,457
  21. Farnworth, Bolton (Greater Manchester) – £13,276,817
  22. Oldham – £10,750,179
  23. Kirkham Town Centre, Fylde – £6,290,831
  24. Maryport Town Centre, Allerdale – £11,527,839
  25. Carlisle City Centre – £9,124,606
  26. Plymouth City Centre – £12,046,873
  27. Barnstaple, North Devon – £6,548,876
  28. Newton Abbot, Teignbridge – £9,025,771
  29. Paignton, Torbay – £13,363,248
  30. Kingswood, South Gloucestershire – £12,555,464
  31. Salisbury City Centre – £9,355,301
  32. Penzance, Cornwall – £10,403,112
  33. Trowbridge, Wiltshire – £16,347,056
  34. Yeovil – £9,756,897
  35. Taunton, Somerset – £13,962,981
  36. Loftus, Redcar and Cleveland – £5,833,526
  37. Middlesbrough Centre – £14,170,352
  38. Stockton – £16,543,812
  39. South Shields – £5,959,187
  40. Derby City Centre, St Peters Cross – £15,034,000
  41. Sutton-in-Ashfield (Nottinghamshire) – £6,279,871
  42. Grantham, South Kesteven (Lincolnshire) – £5,556,042
  43. Grimsby (North East Lincolnshire) – £17,280,917
  44. Nottingham City Centre, West End Point – £12,523,981
  45. Heanor, Amber Valley – £8,592,837
  46. Northampton – £8,427,625
  47. Buxton, High Peak – £6,608,222
  48. Dover Town Centre and Waterfront – £3,196,497
  49. Newhaven, Lewes – £5,004,938
  50. Chatham Town Centre, Medway – £9,497,720
  51. Ramsgate, Thanet – £2,704,213
  52. Commercial Road, Portsmouth – £3,122,375
  53. Fratton, Portsmouth – £3,858,489
  54. High Wycombe – £11,779,904
  55. St Neots, Huntingdonshire – £3,748,815
  56. March High Street, Fenland – £6,447,129
  57. Great Yarmouth – £13,774,430

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Updates to this page

Published 19 May 2021

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