Press release

Thirty towns to share 拢725 million to help communities build back better

Funding announced for 30 towns in England to boost their local economies, create jobs and help them build back better from the pandemic.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
Hastings
  • Investment will boost local economies, create jobs and new homes, and improve skills
  • Plans will transform public spaces, deliver green transport links and revamp cultural and tourist attractions
  • Part of government鈥檚 multi-billion levelling up programme

Thirty towns in England will share over 拢700 million to boost their local economies, create jobs and help them build back better from the pandemic.

These new Towns Deals range from seaside towns like Hastings and Hartlepool to the historic market towns of Bedford and Bishop Auckland.

The money will help them to grow their local economies, while also carving out new opportunities to reshape the look and feel of their areas.

The Deals will help breathe new life into neglected areas or unused buildings by creating vibrant spaces for businesses, community events or much needed new homes.

Projects also include renovations to attractions like Hastings Castle helping to boost the cultural and tourism offers of towns.

Sustainability is at the heart of many of the schemes with new greener transport infrastructure including cycle paths and pedestrian walkways that will connect areas in the greenest way possible.

The Deals will also create thousands of jobs, with many towns investing in opportunities to improve skills through new vocational training hubs that will support high skilled and higher paid jobs in the area for local people.

These landmark deals will see hundreds of millions of pounds invested in projects across England including:

  • Hereford is set to use its 拢22.4 million investment to introduce a fleet of electric buses and regenerate the museum, library and art gallery into a unique modern visitor attraction.
  • Doncaster will use its 拢24.8 million of investment to upgrade Doncaster Station Gateway and its surroundings by creating greener transport options such as cycle lanes and walking routes. The money will also be used to provide high-quality and attractive commercial space, boosting investment and increasing footfall to the town centre.
  • Hastings 拢24.3 million investment includes a new green and Low Carbon Centre of Excellence that will provide new commercial space while also helping the Town seize the opportunities of the emerging green economy. It will also boost the Town鈥檚 tourism offer through improvements to the Castle and other public spaces.
  • Hartlepool will invest part of their 拢25 million deal in a new Health and Care Academy and a Civil Engineering Institute to boost local skills as part of plans to support more higher-skilled, higher-paid jobs in the local area.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP 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.

Today I am announcing new town deals in 30 areas, backed by over 拢725 million investment from the Towns Fund. 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.

Today鈥檚 announcement means that 83 Towns Deals have now been agreed - totalling over 拢2 billion investment in communities across England.

This is part of comprehensive action by the government to level up opportunity and prosperity across all areas of the country, including through the 拢4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund, the 拢220 million Community Renewal Fund and the 拢830 million Future High Streets Fund.

Building successful, thriving communities is at the heart of the government鈥檚 levelling up agenda. As well as creating town centres that people want to work, rest and play in, the government is delivering the homes that people need where they need them, making home ownership a reality for many young people and key workers in the places they want to live. Last Friday the government announced the First Homes programme which provides a 30% discount to first time buyers.

Further information

On 27 July 2019 the Prime Minister announced that the 拢3.6 billion Towns Fund would support an initial 101 town deals across England.

A Town Deal is an agreement in principle between government, the lead council and the Town Deal Board. It will set out a vision and strategy for the town, and what each party agrees to do to achieve this vision.

The offers announced today respond to locally led proposals put forward by the lead council and Town Deal Boards with representation from business, the local community, public sectors and local MPs.

A summary of all of today鈥檚 deals is set out below:

Town Funding amount
Ashfield (joint Kirkby & Sutton) 拢62.6尘
Bedford 拢22.6尘
Bishop Auckland 拢33.2尘
Bridgwater 拢22.6尘
Brighouse 拢19.1尘
Cleator Moor 拢22.5尘
Corby 拢19.9尘
Dewsbury 拢24.8尘
Doncaster 拢24.8尘
Glastonbury 拢23.6尘
Goole 拢25尘
Harlow 拢23.7尘
Hartlepool 拢25尘
Hastings 拢24.3尘
Hereford 拢22.4尘
Keighley 拢33.6尘
King鈥檚 Lynn 拢25尘
Long Eaton 拢24.8尘
Loughborough 拢16.9尘
Newcastle-under-Lyme 拢23.6尘
Oldham 拢24.4尘
Redcar 拢25尘
Redditch 拢15.6尘
Rotherham 拢31.6尘
Shipley 拢25尘
Stapleford 拢21.1尘
Telford 拢22.3尘
Walsall 拢21.3尘
Worcester 拢19.6尘

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Published 8 June 2021