£1bn ‘Future High Streets Fund’ expanded to 50 more areas

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that an additional 50 towns will benefit from the £1bn Future High Streets Fund.

Towns across England – from Dudley to Dover and Scarborough to Stockport – will join 50 successful areas already shortlisted to develop plans to reinvent their high streets.

According to the government, the funding could be used by these areas to improve transport and access into town centres, convert empty retail units into new homes and workplaces, and invest in “vital” infrastructure.

The extension to the shortlist comes on the back of the £3.6bn Towns Fund announced last month, which included an additional £325m for the Future High Streets Fund, taking the overall Fund to £1bn as the government looks to drive forward local growth.

Johnson said: “Our high streets are right at the heart of our communities, and I will do everything I can to make sure they remain vibrant places where people want to go, meet and spend their money.

“But with our town centres facing challenges, we’re today expanding the High Streets Fund to support over 100 high streets to regenerate – backed by £1 billion of vital investment.”

He added: “This scheme is going to reenergise and transform even more of our high streets – helping them to attract new businesses, boost local growth, and create new infrastructure and jobs.”

Communities secretary Robert Jenrick MP said: “High streets have a crucial role to play as we work to grow the economy of all parts of the country.

“Our £1bn Future High Streets Fund is key to delivering this, empowering local leaders to help transform their high streets and town centres as consumer habits change, by investing in housing, workplaces, infrastructure and culture.”