£1.6b Stronger Towns fund to boost prosperity after Brexit

The government has launched a £1.6 billion fund to boost economic growth in less prosperous towns after Brexit.

The Stronger Towns Fund will be used to create new jobs, help train local people and boost economic activity. A total of £1 billion will be allocated using a needs-based formula. More than half this share (£583 million) will go to towns across the North with a further £322 million allocated to communities in the Midlands. Communities will be able to draw up job-boosting plans for their town, with the support and advice of their Local Enterprise Partnerships.

Another £600 million will be available through a bidding process to communities in any part of the country.

Local communities will be encouraged to come together to draw up proposals to restore pride and create new jobs in their area.

The government will also seek to ensure towns across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will benefit from the new funding.

Announcing the Stronger Towns Fund, Prime Minister Theresa May said: "For too long in our country prosperity has been unfairly spread. Our economy has worked well for some places but we want it to work for all communities.

"Communities across the country voted for Brexit as an expression of their desire to see change – that must be a change for the better, with more opportunity and greater control.

"These towns have a glorious heritage, huge potential and, with the right help, a bright future ahead of them."

A full list of allocations of the £1 billion can be found below:

North West - £281m
North East - £105m
Yorkshire and The Humber - £197m
West Midlands - £212m
East Midlands - £110m
South West - £33m
South East - £37m
East of England - £25m