Council leader notes Future High Streets Fund shortfall

The leader of Lewes District Council has spoken out after the government awarded it £2m less than originally bid for, as part of the Future High Streets Fund.

The government announced on Boxing Day (26 December) that £830m from the Future High Streets Fund will be invested in 72 areas across England.

Fifteen areas across England have been awarded a confirmed £255m from the Future High Streets Fund.

A further 57 areas have received a provisional funding offers totalling up to £576m and we will be working with them to finalise their proposals.

The government has also confirmed that £107m of the Future High Streets Fund has been allocated to Department of Culture, Media and Sport to support the regeneration of heritage high streets.  

The £1bn Future High Streets Fund was originally launched in December 2018 and the government announced in August 2019 that 100 towns had been shortlisted and invited to make bids.

Lewes District Council was one of the 57 to have received a provisional funding offer of £5m from fund.

The council’s bid, entitled Re-imagining Newhaven, focuses on re-purposing derelict and under-used buildings as well as better integrating, diversifying and strengthening the town centre, so that it offers a wider range of services for residents, as well as attracting those working or visiting the town to spend more money locally to help build community wealth.

Council leader, Cllr James MacCleary said he was pleased that Newhaven was going to receive the money.

‘However, I am firmly of the belief that our superb bid to the government deserved the full £7.2m we were asking for, nothing less,’ he said.

‘Clearly, the decision makers in Westminster thought differently and I will read with great interest the reasons that they felt our town wasn’t worth the full amount.’

The Re-imagining Newhaven is the latest step in Lewes District Council’s regeneration plans for the town, following the designation of the town as an Enterprise Zone in 2017, alongside the emerging Towns Fund submission for up to £25m of further investment.

‘This has been a long process and it’s important to say that the initial bid was submitted by the previous administration at the council so it’s important to reflect that this is an achievement for the district council as a whole,’ added the council leader.

‘A great deal of work has been undertaken to reach this point and now more hard work begins as we accelerate the preparatory steps needed in advance of spades in the ground.’

Photo Credit – Stux (Pixabay)