Government announces £80m boost for towns

Over a hundred towns in England are to share £80 million to boost regeneration, as part of the government's plan to build back better.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced that the 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.

He said that the Our Towns Fund will help to share prosperity across the country and level-up, with the £80 million funding to aid in the areas of transport, technology, skills and culture.

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.

Town Deals build 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 eight 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.