Sheffield awarded £15.8 million boost from Government's Future High Streets Fund

Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, announced that Sheffield is among the areas in England which will benefit from a share of £830 million to regenerate high streets – £96.2 million of which has been awarded across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

It follows a sucessful bid, made by Sheffield City Council and supported by the University of Sheffield, which was based on complimenting the success of the emerging £480m Heart of the City II development and ongoing investment on The Moor.

Sheffield will now receive £15.8 million in recognition of the ‘forward-thinking and innovative’ proposals to help progress plans to boost its reputation as an ‘Outdoor City’ with high quality public spaces for the community.

The plans include a bespoke events hub and the conversion of unused space to host outdoor events, with the investment also supporting upgrades to the city’s digital infrastructure, a new lighting scheme and improved cycle routes.

The extra funding has been awarded as part of the Government’s flagship £1 billion Future High Streets Fund and will help areas to recover from the pandemic while also driving long term growth.

It will also help to protect and create jobs in a range of industries, delivering opportunities and prosperity to communities which have been left behind.

From improving transport and access into town centres to converting retail units into new homes, it is hoped the plans will deliver long-term impacts that drive growth, raise living standards and ultimately help level up the regions.

Minister for High Streets, Kelly Tolhurst, said: “Yorkshire and the Humber has a rich industrial and commercial heritage which the Future High Streets Fund is set to help them to protect and celebrate.

“With a confirmed investment of over £15 million and further provisional offers of up to £80 million, bold proposals to reinvigorate the region’s high streets can be bought to life, making them once again the beating heat of their communities.

“I’m delighted to see that Sheffield is aiming to bolster its reputation as an ‘Outdoor City’ and look forward to seeing their plans unfold in the new year.”

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