£150m Boost for High Streets

The government has announced a £150m funding package designed to revive struggling high streets and reverse years of decline in towns and neighbourhoods most in need of support.

Ministers say the investment will focus on places where boarded-up shopfronts, empty units and the loss of everyday services such as butchers, grocers and bakeries have weakened local economies and damaged community pride. The funding forms the opening move in a wider High Streets Strategy, which the government plans to roll out in the coming months.

Targeting places left behind

The government will direct the £150m towards areas that have faced sustained economic pressure in recent years, including rising costs, changing shopping habits and the long-term impact of the pandemic. Officials say this targeted approach will help towns that need the greatest level of intervention rather than spreading funding thinly across the country.

By focusing on these communities, ministers aim to halt the visible decline of high streets and create the conditions for long-term recovery. The funding will support practical improvements that encourage people to return to their local centres and spend time and money there.

The government has yet to confirm which towns will receive funding or how much each area will get. It plans to publish further details on allocation criteria and timelines later this year as part of the full High Streets Strategy.

Supporting local businesses and spaces

The package will prioritise support for local and independent businesses, which ministers describe as the backbone of successful high streets. Communities will use the funding to help small traders open or expand, improve neglected shopfronts and bring empty units back into use.

The government says these changes will help high streets reclaim their role as social hubs rather than just retail destinations. By improving the look and feel of town centres, ministers hope to increase footfall, strengthen local economies and give residents a renewed sense of pride in their area.

High streets also provide essential spaces where people meet, access services and connect with one another. The government argues that investing in these shared spaces strengthens social ties and supports community wellbeing alongside economic growth.

Building on existing regeneration plans

Ministers say the funding builds on action already underway to restore pride in local places. Councils in England now have greater powers to block new betting shops and vape stores, allowing local leaders to shape the mix of businesses on their high streets.

The government has also backed more than 1,000 pubs that offer additional services such as post offices, shops or meeting spaces. These venues often act as vital anchors for communities, particularly in rural or disadvantaged areas.

Through the Pride in Place programme, the government has already invested in more than 330 of the most deprived communities, funding improvements to local amenities and public spaces. Ministers describe the new high streets package as a continuation of this place-based approach.

New powers for communities

Alongside funding, the government plans to introduce new legislation to strengthen community control over local assets. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will create a new community right to buy, giving local people the chance to purchase and protect valued assets such as pubs, sports clubs and community centres.

Ministers have also pledged to end so-called “pub deserts” by banning the loss of the last remaining community facility in an area. In addition, the government has committed to further action to limit the spread of betting shops on high streets where communities oppose them.

While local leaders have welcomed the funding, many continue to call for long-term certainty on business rates, planning rules and transport investment. They argue that sustained regeneration requires consistent support over many years.

The government insists the £150 million package marks a decisive first step. Ministers say the forthcoming High Streets Strategy will set out how funding, new powers and local leadership will combine to bring high streets back to life and rebuild confidence in communities across England.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: “Our high streets are the beating heart of Britain – where communities come together and local businesses can grow. Town centres have suffered from high streets falling into decline, and that is why we’re taking action to turn the tide with this crucial investment and more to come. We have listened to what people are telling us and that’s why we’re giving them the power and control to breathe new life back into our high streets and restore the sense of pride communities feel, building on our transformational Pride in Place programme.”