Burnham pledges extra £210m towards regenerating boarded-up high streets
Funds to help local people turn empty shops, pubs and clubs into community hubs, shared workspaces and cafes The UK government has pledged £210m to regenerate high streets by taking boarded-up shops, pubs and clubs and turning them into shared workspaces, cafes and community hubs. Andy Burnham said the funds would “help put power back into the hands of locals who know their area best” as part of…
The UK government has announced a £210m investment to regenerate high streets across England, converting boarded-up shops, pubs, and clubs into community hubs, shared workspaces, and cafes. Andy Burnham, the Minister for Housing, said the funds would empower local people who best understand their areas, thus restoring pride and hope.
Despite multiple government attempts at regeneration, high streets continue to struggle due to the shift to online shopping, higher business costs, and the cost of living crunch. Burnham emphasized that people measure growth by their local high street's vitality, not spreadsheets. The new £125m derelict buildings fund will support local councils to revamp vacant shopping centers, disused cinemas, and abandoned buildings into community halls and health centers.
Additionally, £65m will assist communities in rescuing and revamping at-risk buildings and businesses, such as pubs and clubs. The £20m will be split between co-operative ownership of community businesses and council high street rental auctions. This funding is part of the existing £5.8bn Pride in Place programme, which supports 284 deprived communities with up to £2m a year for ten years. The government is set to launch a full high streets strategy later this year.
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