Buxton, Derby, and Heanor in Derbyshire, as well as Mansfield, Sutton, and Nottingham in Nottinghamshire – in the D2N2 LEP area – have been shortlisted for allocations from the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government’s Future High Streets Fund.
Across the country, 100 projects have made the shortlist, with each being awarded up to £150,000 of new funding to work up further detailed project proposals, based on their initial plans.
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership area has the joint highest number of locations which have made the shortlist, with Greater Manchester and Lancashire also having five each.
D2N2 is the private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary services representatives which promotes economic growth across the area of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
The Future High Streets Fund
Launched in December 2018, The Future High Streets Fund is a £675million initiative, set up to help local areas respond to and adapt to changes.
The Fund aims to support local areas in preparing long-term strategies for their high streets and town centres; through expertise, hands-on support, and co-funding of local area projects.
Speaking on the Future High Streets fund, Prime Minister Boris 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.”
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick, also MP for Newark in Nottinghamshire, said: “High streets have a crucial role to play as we work to grow the economy of all parts of the country.”
D2N2 CEO Sajeeda Rose said: “We are pleased to see so many of the bids from our region being shortlisted, helping our region become more productive, prosperous, and inclusive.”
“We will continue to work in partnership with the shortlisted bids to secure further investment to deliver support into our towns and cities which support businesses and communities across the region.”
Our £1 billion 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.
This scheme is going to re-energise and transform even more of our high streets – helping them to attract new businesses, boost local growth, and create new infrastructure and jobs.
Through its Local Growth Fund allocation, D2N2 has already committed £7.6m to a £20m Nottinghamshire County Council programme, to aid the development of high streets and town centres in its area.
Media wanting more information about the D2N2 LEP can contact Luke Stott, D2N2 Digital Marketing Officer, on 0115 9578749 or email: Luke.Stott@d2n2lep.org
This story was updated on August 30 2019 to reflect the addition of Sutton, Nottinghamshire to the shortlist.
