Government provides £1.5 billion to 'restore pride in Britain's neighbourhoods'

The government will provide funding of up to £20m each to 75 areas to spend on regenerating local features such as high streets, parks, youth clubs, cultural venues, libraries and health services.

The £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods is aimed at transforming "left behind" locations by improving local services and tackling issues such as crime.

Among the areas chosen are Scunthorpe in England, Irvine in Scotland, Wrexham in Wales, and Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry in Northern Ireland.

In each area, a new 'Neighbourhood Board' will bring together residents, local businesses, and grassroots campaigners to implement a new vision for their area and decide how to spend up to £20 million over 10 years. Example activities are repairs to pavements and high streets, setting up community grocers, running co-operatives and creating neighbourhood watch schemes.

The government has also published a list of regeneration powers that communities are encouraged to use, such as saving pubs by listing them as community assets, and using respect orders to tackle repeat offenders. 

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said:

"For years, too many neighbourhoods have been starved of investment, despite their potential to thrive and grow.

"Communities across the UK have so much to offer, rich cultural capital, unique heritage but most of all, an understanding of their own neighbourhood."

Minister for local growth and building safety Alex Norris said:

"When our local neighbourhoods thrive, the rest of the country thrives too. That's why we are empowering communities to take control of their futures and create the regeneration and growth they want to see.

"Our Plan for Neighbourhoods we will deliver long-term funding that will bolster that inner community spirit in us all and relight the fires in corners of the UK that have for too long been left fighting for survival."

Funding will be released from April 2025 with delivery investment starting in 2026. The government said locations were selected for funding after considering factors including rates of deprivation and healthy life expectancy.

The 75 areas are:

Scotland:

• Arbroath

• Elgin

• Kirkwall (Orkney Islands)

• Peterhead

• Dumfries

• Irvine

• Kilmarnock

• Clydebank

• Coatbridge

• Greenock

Wales:

• Barry

• Wrexham

• Rhyl

• Cwmbrân

• Merthyr Tydfil

Northern Ireland:

• Derry~Londonderry

• Coleraine

North East:

• Blyth

• Darlington

• Eston

• Hartlepool

• Jarrow

• Spennymoor

• Washington

North West:

• Accrington

• Ashton-Under-Lyne

• Burnley

• Chadderton

• Darwen

• Farnworth

• Heywood

• Kirkby

• Leigh

• Nelson

• Newton-le-Willows

• Rawtenstall

• Runcorn

Yorkshire and the Humber:

• Barnsley

• Castleford

• Dewsbury

• Doncaster

• Keighley

• Rotherham

• Scarborough

• Scunthorpe

• Grimsby

East Midlands:

• Boston

• Carlton

• Chesterfield

• Clifton (Notts)

• Kirkby-in-Ashfield

• Mansfield

• Newark-on-Trent

• Spalding

• Worksop

• Skegness

West Midlands:

• Bedworth

• Bilston

• Darlaston

• Dudley

• Royal Sutton Coldfield

• Smethwick

East of England:

• Canvey Island

• Clacton-on-Sea

• Great Yarmouth

• King's Lynn

• Thetford

• Wisbech

• Harlow

South East:

• Bexhill-on-Sea

• Eastbourne

• Hastings

• Ramsgate

• Ryde

South West:

• Torquay