Pubs in 12 town centres win share of £1.2m to boost high streets

27-May-2012 - Last updated on 12-Mar-2017 at 02:50 GMT

Pubs in 12 town centres are set to receive a slice of £1.2m to help rejuvenate their high streets, as the first set of Portas Pilots have been selected.

The areas will benefit from a £500,000 Business Improvement Districts fund to help town centres access set-up loans; and a tailored package of support from both the Government and retail guru Mary Portas.

The first 12 Portas Pilot towns are: Bedford, Bedfordshire; Croydon, Greater London; Dartford, Kent; Bedminster, Bristol; Liskeard, Cornwall; Margate, Kent; Market Rasen, Lincolnshire; Nelson, Lancashire; Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland; Stockport, Greater Manchester; Stockton on Tees, Teeside; Wolverhampton, West Midlands.

Local Government minister Grant Shapps said the competition to become a pilot received an overwhelming response, with over 370 applications.

He explained that the quality of the bids has been so high that he will be launching a second round of the competition, which will see 12 additional pilots announced by the end of July. The Greater London Authority is also funding a further three.

There is no need for unsuccessful applicants to reapply, but they could sharpen up their bids if they wished and submit them again by 30 June, which is also the deadline for new town teams to apply.

The minister said it was clear that Mary Portas’s review into the High Street was the “catalyst communities craved” to get together and secure the future of their town centres.

He added: “The best local high streets offer more than simply shopping – they are the beating heart of their neighbourhoods: places to meet, work, relax and come together as a community. It’s why this competition to become a Portas Pilot has captured the imagination of the nation, with communities across the country uniting to support their high streets.

“The quality and sheer number of applications has been overwhelming – 12 winning bids now have the chance receive expert advice and financial support, but I believe more towns deserve to be selected.

"So today I can announce a second round of the competition will see 15 more town centres benefit from this unique opportunity. Together these pilots can be the vanguard of a high street revolution, and others can look to their example to kick start a renaissance of our town centres.”