Sheffield's Labour MP's back funding bid to bring 'new lease of life' to city centre

Clive Betts, Louise Haigh, Paul Blomfield, Olivia Blake and Gill Furniss have sent a joint letter to the government in support of Sheffield Council’s bid to the Future High Street Fund, which could see up to £25 million allocated to help “revitalise” areas such as Fargate and High Street.

Both have borne the brunt of not only the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic but the broader long term decline in high street retail and could benefit from redevelopment similar to the Heart of the City project which is underway around The Moor.

In the letter, directed at the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, and Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government, Luke Hall, the MPs noted how there are now many empty shops along Fargate and High Street – although both were once the main areas for retail and shopping in the city.

They said: “The proposals in this bid for funds would see a whole new approach to the areas with some retailing but many other reasons why people would come to a major city centre.

"The work done with the university shows how this can be achieved with a very positive cost/benefit analysis that would certainly justify the input of public money into it.

"We are all extremely supportive of this. We can see our city changing for the better, being revitalised, re-energised and a great place for people to come.

"This can be achieved most positively, most effectively and most quickly with the support of Government through the Future High Street Fund and we look forward to what we hope will be a positive response from yourselves.”

The bid has passed the first round of applications and has the support of the University of Sheffield as well.

Clive Betts, MP for Sheffield South East, added: “This is exactly the sort of investment we need for the city centre, investment that will provide real jobs and potential for growth that will benefit all Sheffield residents.”

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