Swindon, Worcester & Kidderminster celebrate multi million pound town centre investment

Swindon, Kidderminster and Worcester have all secured major funding for their plans to transform their town centres, the government has announced today.

Swindon has landed £25 million to bring its plans to modernise the town centre to reality, including a new public transport hub and improved cycle and pedestrian routes.

Worcester has secured a £17.9 million boost for its town centre from the government’s Future High Streets Fund to renovate the Scala Theatre and Corn Exchange, transforming underused space to create new homes for first time buyers and improving connectivity.

Kidderminster secured more than £20.5 million.

The government is investing up to £830 million from the Future High Streets Fund, which it first launched in December 2018. £107 million of the Future High Streets Fund has been allocated to DCMS to support the regeneration of heritage high streets.

Four further towns across the region have won provisional funding offers from the government:

Leamington Spa, which has received just over £10 million, Nuneaton which secured more than £13 million, Kingswood, South Gloucestershire - £12.5 million and High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, just under £12 million.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “The year ahead will be a big one for the high street as it seeks to recover, adapt and evolve as a result of the pandemic. Today’s £830 million investment from the Future High Streets Fund is one of many ways the government is working to help our much-loved town centres get through this and prosper into the future.

“The role of high street has always evolved. We want to support that change and make sure that they are the beating heart of their local community – with high quality housing and leisure in addition to shops and restaurants.”