- Government to kickstart the economic recovery from coronavirus with £5 billion of infrastructure projects.
- 101 places, including Bishop Auckland, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Thornaby-on-Tees, to receive at least an additional £500,000 to spend on projects such as improvements to parks, high streets or transport links.
- Part of a package of £96 million for town centres and high streets via the Towns Fund, and comes on top of the £3.2 billion provided to local authorities throughout the coronavirus outbreak
Northern MPs, Simon Clarke, Dehenna Davison, Peter Gibson, Richard Holden, Paul Howell, Matt Vickers and Jacob Young, have today welcomed news that the Prime Minister has announced additional funding to level up the North East of England. The announcement is part of a wider economic package to accelerate infrastructure projects, fuelling jobs and the country’s economic recovery following coronavirus.
Towns across England that have successfully been selected to receive investment via the Government’s Towns Fund will benefit from a share of £96m to accelerate investment in their town centres and high streets this year.
As part of this, towns across the North East including, Bishop Auckland, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Redcar, and Thornaby-on-Tees, will receive between £500,000 and £1 million to spend on projects such as improvements to parks, high streets and local transport. They will receive the funding as part of the 101 towns previously selected for town deals, under the Conservative Government’s plans to level up places across the country.
The Towns Fund is targeted at areas with proud industrial and economic heritage that have not always benefitted from economic growth in the same way as more prosperous areas. Today’s announcement brings the first tranche of money from the Fund to help each area meet some of the immediate challenges they face as a result of COVID-19 and invest in shovel ready projects that will improve their town centres forward, from new cycle lanes and better pedestrian access to repurposing empty shops to create new community spaces.
The Prime Minister has announced £5 billion to invest in Britain’s infrastructure, as part of the New Deal for Britain, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The package of measures, including improving town centres, is designed to upgrade Britain’s infrastructure and skills to fuel economic recovery across the UK.
This builds on the £3.2 billion the Government has provided to local authorities throughout the coronavirus pandemic, to help them keep key local services running. The funding has meant that local authorities have been able to continue to provide essential services, including getting rough sleepers off the street, supporting people who have been shielding and providing vital social care.