Northampton town centre in line for £8.45 million funding boost...but work still needs to be done to finally secure money

Northampton is one step closer to securing millions of pounds worth of funding under the Government's Future High Streets Fund...but there is still work to be done to secure the money.

Over the Christmas weekend, the Government announced details of how £830 million of funding was being shared across town and city centres.

Northampton Borough Council had submitted a bid hoping to secure up to £12.5 million.

In the announcement, the Government outlined 15 areas that had won the funding immediately and a further 57 areas that had provisionally received funding but needed further work on their applications. Northampton is in this second group and has provisionally been awarded £8,442,730. There is no information at this stage as what further work the Northampton bid needs to secure the money.

A statement issued by the Government said: "Fifteen areas across England have been awarded a confirmed £255 million from the Future High Streets Fund. A further 57 areas have received a provisional funding offers totalling up to £576 million and we will be working with them to finalise their proposals."

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.

"This investment will help us build back better and make town centres a more attractive place to live, work and visit."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: "We are supporting our high streets to get through this pandemic through business grants, paying people’s wages and tax deferrals.

"The Future High Streets Fund will help areas bounce back through regeneration projects that level up opportunities and create jobs right across the country."