Kirkham town centre will receive a major funding boost of more than £6m, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed this week.
The historic Fylde market town is one of nine areas in the North West to benefit from a total of £102m worth of funding as part of the Government’s Future High Streets Fund (FHSF).
It was announced earlier this year that Fylde Borough Council had been successful in its provisional bid for FHSF funding to assist the regeneration of Kirkham.
That £6.3m grant has now been rubber-stamped which will enable the purchase and repurposing of a number of historic buildings on Poulton Street and Preston Street, together with a wide range of improvements to the public realm and outdoor spaces.
It is planned to create a new Heritage and Eco Skills Centre, Arts Centre and Community Cinema, together with the re-development of empty shops and new town centre housing.
Added to the funding already secured, as part of Historic England’s High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HS HAZ) scheme, it means all systems go for the £10m Kirkham Futures masterplan.
Commenting on the FHSF grant, Fylde Council leader Cllr Karen Buckley said: “I am absolutely thrilled Kirkham has been awarded this Future High Streets Fund grant and want to say a big thank you to everyone involved, especially the hard work and dedication of our Regeneration Team.
“As the only Lancashire authority to receive the FHSF we are really punching above our weight and flying the flag for Lancashire.
“With this grant we will deliver on the Government’s commitment to ‘build back better’ in Kirkham, spending millions on creating a vibrant, attractive high street and delivering trailblazing projects like the Heritage and Eco Skills centre at Hillside, on Preston Street, which will not only bring new people into Kirkham but also create new green jobs and train citizens of all ages in sustainable, low-impact living.”
The Future High Streets Fund was launched in December 2018 and is a key part of the Government’s plan to renew and reshape town centres – making them a more attractive place to live, work and visit.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “This funding is part of wider support we are providing to communities and businesses, to protect jobs, support the most vulnerable and ensure no one is left behind as we recover from the pandemic.
“This investment will make a huge difference to towns and cities across England and transform themselves into desired places to shop, visit, live and work.
“The Future High Streets Fund will support towns, communities and businesses as we get back to enjoying the best of what the high street has to offer.”
For full information, and to keep up-to-date with Kirkham’s regeneration masterplan, please visit www.kirkhamfutures.org
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