Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled a £210 million initiative to regenerate the United Kingdom's high streets and communities. The funding is designed to bring empty spaces back into use as community hubs, health centers, shared workspaces, and local services.
The plan includes a £125 million fund dedicated to transforming mothballed and dilapidated buildings into usable spaces. An additional £85 million will enable communities to acquire and repurpose neglected venues such as pubs, clubs, and shops. Furthermore, £65 million is earmarked for rescuing businesses and buildings at risk of closure, with another £20 million allocated to support communities in establishing cooperative businesses and renting out vacant units.
Burnham stated that the regeneration efforts are aimed at tangible improvements that residents can see and feel, contrasting this with abstract economic indicators. "People don't measure growth by looking at a spreadsheet. They measure it by looking at their local high street. Are shops opening or are the shutters down? Does the place feel like it's moving forward or being left behind?" he remarked. He emphasized that the funding would empower local individuals who possess the most intimate knowledge of their areas.
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner commented that the scheme demonstrates the government's commitment to revitalizing rundown areas, turning "boarded-up buildings that have been left to rack and ruin into places people are proud to visit again." First Secretary of State Louise Haigh added that the investment provides local people with the necessary resources for change, framing it as a practical application of devolution.
This announcement follows an earlier commitment by Burnham to implement a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs, and social venues starting in April. However, Business Secretary Peter Kyle has urged Burnham to accelerate efforts to boost economic growth as the prime minister prepares to attend the Labour Party conference. The Conservative Party has also presented its own strategy for high street improvement, which includes abolishing business rates for numerous businesses and protecting community assets like post offices, pubs, and pharmacies.