Cornwall Council makes money available to help towns become more vibrant places to work, shop and spend time

Towns across Cornwall are being invited to apply for part of a £1million pot of money to help them advance revitalisation plans.  

Cornwall Council’s Town Centre Revitalisation Fund aims to help town centres explore ways that they can become more vibrant and offer the right mix to see their high streets flourish. 

Town Councils will be able to apply on behalf of their town partnerships for grant funding to take forward development work that will improve the economic, social and environmental revitalisation of their high streets. Money is available to those towns not in receipt of the Government’s Future High Street or Town Deal funding. 

Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Economy, Tim Dwelly, said there was a strong commitment to help town centres throughout Cornwall so that high streets become successful places where people can spend more time and access new services and shops.  

He said: “Our plan is to help towns to rethink their centres by working up truly deliverable projects for future investment that will improve town centre vitality, making them places where the community wants to live and work. 

“That could include more homes in town centres, work spaces, or new community facilities, to name just a few. 

“Town centres and high streets have experienced extremely difficult times given changing shopping trends and habits and of course the significant impact of Covid-19.   

“This funding is an opportunity to explore improvements that could turn the tide and help town centres become more vibrant – cleaner, greener, safer places for everyone. 

“Local councils are at the heart of their communities, with the ability to identify key stakeholders to form a Town Team to examine and prioritise strategic issues where this grant can support investment proposals.   

“This funding can help towns progress feasibility studies, town centre health checks, concept plans and carry out community engagement so that Cornish high streets reflect local people’s aspirations. 

“To make the most of this opportunity I would urge towns to form effective and functioning town teams or partnerships.  

“This way their community can come together with a united, single voice to back new proposals to make their towns strong and prosperous.” 

Town Councils will be supported by their Cornwall Council Community Link Officers to submit a grant application once they have set up a town team, agreed their town vision and have a clear plan as to how this funding can support them with their ambitions. 

The Town Vitality Funding is being managed by Cornwall Council’s Economic Growth Service.