Swindon, Birkenhead and Brierley Hill in the West Midlands are among 15 locations to have funding confirmed for transport related initiatives as part of a Government allocation of £255M from its Future High Streets Fund.
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A further 57 locations across England have received a total of £576M in provisional grants to develop proposals to regenerate their town and city centres.
Swindon receives £25M and will take forward a ‘boulevard’ scheme to transform Fleming Way in the centre of the town. A new bus station, pedestrian and cycle routes and public open space will be introduced, along with the removal of an underpass and changes to the road layout. A ‘green spine’ will be created to increase biodiversity.
“Strategically this is a really important scheme and will open up this whole area, making it much more accessible and attractive to potential investors,” said Swindon borough council leader David Renard.
Birkenhead has been awarded £24.5M to improve its retail offer including a new market and will see a series of projects carried out to reduce the dominance of motor traffic and improve conditions for those on foot. Access points into the town centre at Conway Street and Charing Cross will be enhanced along with the high street itself on Grange Road.
“This is such fantastic news, the size of this grant is going to enable us to do so much,” said Wirral Councillor Anita Leech. “This is not about adding a lick of paint, this is about delivering fundamental change within our town centre.”
Brierley Hill's allocation of just under £10M will be used to better connect the town to a new stop on the Midland Metro tram line, as well as to boost footfall in the centre and improve traffic flows and air quality. Dudley Councillor Ian Kettle said: “There's already a lot to look forward to in and around the town centre, not least the Metro extension when that rolls into town. Any additional investment that we can secure can only boost the town’s prospects.”
Other places with transport plans backed by the Future High Streets Fund include Bishop Auckland in County Durham which is taking forward a new bus station and car parks, Blyth in Northumberland which has put forward cycling and walking improvements, Winsford in Cheshire which is to develop a new public transport hub, and Stretford in Trafford which will focus on improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
The 15 places receiving full funding the Future High Streets Fund are:
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