Town funds

Thirty towns to share over £700m to help build back better



Thirty towns in England will share £725m to boost their local economies, create jobs and help them build back better from the pandemic.


The money will help them to renew neglected areas or unused buildings by creating vibrant spaces for businesses, community events or new homes.

Projects also include renovations to attractions, such as Hastings Castle, to help boost the cultural tourism of towns.

Among those that are set to receive funding are Hastings, Doncaster, Hartlepool, and Hereford; a full list of all 30 towns can be found here.

Hastings will use its £24.3m investment for a new green and a Low Carbon Centre of Excellence that will provide new commercial space, as well improving its castle and other public spaces.

Doncaster will utilise its £24.8m funding to upgrade Doncaster Station Gateway and its surroundings with greener transport options, such as cycle lanes and walking routes. 

It will also provide commercial space to help increase footfall to the town centre. 

Meanwhile, Hereford is set to spend its £22.4m allocation to introduce a fleet of electric buses and regenerate a museum, library and art gallery into a modern visitor attraction.

Part of Hartlepool’s £25m deal will go into a new Health and Care Academy and a Civil Engineering Institute to boost local skills as part of plans to support more higher-skilled and higher-paid jobs in the local area.

The announcement is part of action by the government to level up opportunity and prosperity across all areas of the country, including through the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund, the £220m Community Renewal Fund and the £830m Future High Streets Fund.

Housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: “We are levelling up towns and cities across the country by building stronger and more resilient local economies, boosting prosperity and opportunity in our communities, and helping them build back better from the pandemic.

“This will support locally led projects to transform disused buildings and public spaces, deliver new green transport, and create new opportunities for people to develop new skills. 

“This is a boost for communities and businesses across England.”



Leave a comment