£9.98 MILLION FUNDING BOOST FOR WINSFORD 'HIGH STREET'

In a major boost for local high streets, up to £830 million from the Future High Streets Fund will be invested in 72 areas across England, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced today (26 December).

This includes £9.98 million for Winsford, following a concerted campaign by Edward Timpson CBE, Member of Parliament for Eddisbury.

Winsford is one of only 15 towns to receive the full sum that they bid for.

The funding will help Winsford transform its centre into a vibrant hub for future generations and to protect and create jobs. 

In a key milestone for the Government’s levelling up agenda, this investment will help the area to recover from the pandemic, while also driving long term growth.

It will enable the delivery of ambitious regeneration plans, and fund new local projects such as improvements to broadband and transport infrastructure, new homes, and the transformation of underused spaces. 

The funding will also help to protect and create jobs in a range of industries, delivering opportunities and prosperity to the town.

This funding is part of wider support the Government is providing to communities and businesses, to protect jobs, support the most vulnerable and ensure no one is left behind as we tackle the Covid-19 pandemic head on.  

Communities Secretary, the 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 £9.98 million investment in Winsford from our Future High Streets Fund is one of many ways the Government is working to help our town centres get through this and prosper into the future.  
  
“The role of the 'high street' has always evolved. We want to support that change and make sure that town centres are the beating heart of their local community—with high quality housing and leisure in addition to shops and restaurants. 
 

“Thanks to a strong campaign from Edward Timpson and the bid from Cheshire West & Chester Council, this investment will help us build back better and make Winsford a more attractive place to live, work and visit.” 

Edward Timpson CBE, Member of Parliament for Eddisbury, said:

"This significant, multi-million pound commitment by the Government to Winsford is hugely welcome. 

 

"It makes real the plans to transform our town centre into a vibrant, attractive, and outward-facing space for the whole community—with services, facilities and entertainment fit for future generations. 

 

"It will also help bring more jobs and investment into Winsford as we recover from the pandemic. 

 

"I’m grateful to the Secretary of State for listening to and acting on our strong case for support."

Mike Baynham, Councillor for Winsford Over and Verdin, said:

“This is fantastic news for our town. Having worked closely with the Council on their plans, I’m pleased the Government have fully backed them.

 

“The Future High Streets Fund will help Winsford bounce back through regeneration projects that level up opportunities and create significant jobs for Winsford.” 

The Future High Streets Fund was launched in December 2018, and is a key part of this Government’s plan to renew and reshape town centres—making them a more attractive place to live, work and visit. £107 million of the Future High Streets Fund has been allocated to DCMS to support the regeneration of heritage high streets.  

The Future High Streets Fund is just one of the ways the Government is supporting the retail and hospitality sector. During the pandemic, we made it easier for areas to adapt to the challenges they faced. This included making it easier to demolish and rebuild unused buildings to create homes with our High Street Homes Permitted Development Rights; providing restaurants, pubs and cafes with the freedom to offer takeaway services; and making it easier for businesses and communities to host markets and stalls so customers can be served safely. 

In May the Government launched a fund to help councils reopen high streets safely, and we recently announced that retailers will be able to extend their opening hours over the festive period to help keep shoppers and staff safe.  

This month the Government extended protections from the threat of eviction for businesses unable to pay their rent until March 2021, taking the duration of these measures to one year. 

The Government's recent proposals for the new Parking Code of Practice will support shoppers visiting their local high street by introducing a tiered approach to private car parking fines, and ensuring a fair appeals process. 

The Government is also reviewing the provision of public toilets to ensure that there are appropriate facilities for visitors to town centres.

Pictured - Edward Timpson visiting the Openreach Fibre team in Winsford recently to see the work they are doing to reach full fibre coverage in the town next year (2021).