The government has today published further Towns Fund
guidance which sets out the key information
local leaders need to prepare for a Town Deal and develop
proposals in the form of a Town Investment Plan.
It comes on the day that non-essential retail begins to
reopen in our towns as they look to recover from the
impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Through the guidance, communities, businesses and local
leaders will now be able to work together and draw up
ambitious plans to transform their town’s economic growth
prospects with a focus on improved transport, broadband
connectivity, skills and culture.
, Minister for Regional Growth and Local
Government said:
Ensuring that every part of this country has the
opportunity to grow and prosper is at the heart of the
mission of this Government, and our Towns Fund is an
essential part of making sure that our communities have
the level of investment they need to drive jobs and
economic growth.
Investment in our towns is needed more than ever as we
move to the next stage of the economic recovery from
Covid-19, and the Fund will play an important part in
the kick-starting of our economic recovery and
levelling up our regions.
With this new guidance, communities, businesses and
local leaders will now be able to work together to draw
up their ambitious plans bring investment and growth to
their local area.
The 100 selected places will now have 4 weeks to decide
whether or not to submit a Towns Investment Plan by 31
July 2020 or, in a later cohort, by either October 2020
or early 2021.
All 100 places will be supported throughout the
development of their Town Investment Plans by the Towns
Hub, which consists of the Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local Government and the Towns Fund
Delivery Partnership led by Arup.
On 27 July 2019 the Prime Minister announced that the
£3.6 billion Towns Fund would support an initial 100 town
deals across England. See further details of
the announcement.
A Town Deal is an agreement in principle between
government, the Lead Council and the Town Deal Board. It
will set out a vision and strategy for the town, and what
each party agrees to do to achieve this vision
See the 100 places being
supported to develop Town Deals.