TOWN CENTRE BUSINESSES OFFERED POST-COVID FUNDING

ELIGIBLE businesses in Middlesbrough can now apply for grant funding to help improve the town centre post Covid-19.

The scheme is being funded through the Future High Street Fund Programme and town centre businesses can bid for grants of up to £10k.

Middlesbrough Council has been awarded £14.1m of funds to rebalance the economic mix for residential, commercial and leisure uses.

The vision is based on building a new urban community in the heart of the town. By bringing more people to live and work in central Middlesbrough. The £14.1m will be allocated on the following schemes:

• Development of residential property
• Adaptations to transport services and improving safety / security of town centre areas
• Provision of cultural animation and experiences
• Grant funding for businesses to mitigate the impact of Covid
• Transformation of Captain Cook Square for leisure use

One of the key aims of Middlesbrough's FHSF project is to re-balance Captain Cook Square's 400,000 sq ft of predominantly retail space to a more sustainable mix of leisure and commercial uses.

The project has already attracted considerable interest from regional and national leisure operators, with a number of proposals put forward including.

• Bowling alley with associated leisure attractions
• Boutique cinema
• Small/medium-scale breweries
• Restaurants and eateries, with proposals to maximise outdoor space
• Event hosting - temporary/seasonal use of central outdoor area

In addition to the Captain Cook Square revamp, Middlesbrough Council's £14.1 million FHSF allocation will also see investment in residential property (£3.5m), transport improvements (£1.05m) and cultural development and business support (more than £500k).

Bringing more people to live in central Middlesbrough will also increase footfall in the town centre, attract and retain skills and talent and help foster a more balanced leisure economy.

Accessibility to key facilities in the square including the bus station and car park will be paramount.

• Businesses who want to apply for funding should visit www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/business/future-high-street-fund

ENDS

Press Notice 6531. 11/06/21

Issued by Andrew Pain, Senior Communications Officer on 01642 729503.

www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

Follow Middlesbrough Council on Twitter: @MbroCouncil

NOTES TO EDITORS

Towns Fund - Town Deals

On 27 July 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the Towns Fund would support an initial 101 places across England to develop Town Deal proposals, to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth. 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 101 places being supported to develop Town Deals.

Each of the 101 towns selected to work towards a Town Deal also received accelerated funding last year for investment in capital projects that would have an immediate impact and help places "build back better" in the wake of Covid-19. View a list of accelerated funding by place (PDF, 266 KB, 11 pages).

Towns Fund - Future High Streets Fund

The Future High Streets Fund aims to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability.

In total, 72 places will share up to £831 million from the Future High Streets Fund to help them recover from the pandemic by improving transport links, building new homes and transforming underused spaces.