Bolton town centre has been added to the shortlist for the government’s Future High Streets Fund, joining Farnworth town centre with its successful bid earlier this year.
Bolton Council can use the money to develop plans to reinvent their high streets. The funding could be used by these areas to improve transport and access into town centres, convert empty retail units into new homes and workplaces, and invest in vital infrastructure.
The extension to the shortlist comes on the back of the £3.6 billion Towns Fund announced last month, which included an additional £325 million for the Future High Streets Fund, taking the overall Fund to £1 billion as the Conservative Government looks to drive forward local growth.
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. But with our town centres facing challenges, we’re today expanding the High Streets Fund to support over 100 high streets to regenerate – backed by £1 billion of vital investment. This scheme is going to reenergise and transform even more of our high streets – helping them to attract new businesses, boost local growth, and create new infrastructure and jobs.”
Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh, added “This is brilliant news for our town and work will now begin on building the business case for funding. As a council, we are committed to making Bolton town centre an ideal place to live, work, shop and visit. The £1.2bn masterplan is progressing well as we look to regenerate key areas of the town centre. This investment will continue regardless of whether or not we are successful in our bid for the Future High Streets Fund, but the funding would allow us to do even more.”
