£40 million for coastal communities

Coastal Communities Minister Jake Berry has announced that the government’s Coastal Communities Fund has opened for bids to transform the UK’s coastal communities.

The £40 million round of applications supports the economic transformation of UK coastal communities by giving funding to create sustainable economic growth and jobs.

Since 2012, the fund has awarded grants to 295 projects across the UK, totalling over £174 million. Successful projects have included: Cornwall Council received a £1.95 million grant in 2014 to repair and re-launch the Grade II Listed Art Deco ‘Jubilee Pool’ in Penzance to create an all year round visitor attraction; Blackpool City Council received a £2 million grant towards the ‘Lightpool’ project to deliver a radical transformation of the iconic Blackpool Illuminations. The project is forecast to have increased visitor numbers by 2.6 million; The Tate St Ives was awarded a £3.87 million grant in 2015 to refurbish and extend the Tate Gallery in St Ives; and Northumberland County Council was awarded a £1.8 million CCF grant in 2014 to improve the economy of Amble through infrastructure works to transform the town into a visitor destination promoting seafood, attracting new visitors and creating jobs.

Jake Berry, Coastal Communities Minister, said: “I’m delighted to announce that applications are now open for the next round of the Coastal Communities Fund. Coastal Communities up and down the country from Barrow-in-Furness to Brighton have been boosted by this funding which has spurred inward investment, sustainable growth, new jobs and exciting economic opportunities for local businesses. By 2020, we’ll have invested nearly a quarter of a billion pounds in our seaside areas, providing thousands of jobs, training places and opportunities along the Great British Coast.”