£10 million for 5 more coastal communities

Five projects along the Great British Coast have been awarded over £10 million from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund. These include projects in Cumbria, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Kent and Suffolk to create jobs, boost tourism, improve transport and protect coastal heritage sites.

The Coastal Communities Fund projects announced today are forecast to support nearly 1,000 jobs and attract up to £7.9 million in additional investment from public and private sector sources.

This latest announcement brings the total Coastal Communities Fund investment to £228 million which is supporting 359 projects across the UK which are forecast to create over 20,000 jobs and builds on the government’s commitment to level up every place to ensure people have opportunities to prosper, no matter where they live.

The government has also supported 184 “at risk” coastal heritage assets such as seafront piers, promenades, lighthouses, lidos and marinas with a further £7.5 million investment from the Coastal Revival Fund to allow them to reach their full economic potential.

The government recently announced the first 100 places to benefit from the £3.6 billion Towns Fund which will enable local people to come together to develop a new generation of multi-million-pound Town Deals which will transform their town’s economic growth prospects with a focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, social and cultural infrastructure.

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, Jake Berry, said: “Ensuring our coastal towns have the support they need to thrive is at the heart of this Government’s plan to level up every part of the UK.

“Building on our £228 million investment into coastal communities, the projects receiving funding today were designed by local people who know best what will bring the biggest benefit to their community. Their fantastic ideas demonstrate the raw potential of our coastal towns and will help create good jobs, boost economic growth and improve people’s lives as we leave the EU on 31 October.”

Further information

The Coastal Communities Fund was introduced in 2012. This latest announcement brings the total Coastal Communities Fund investment to £228 million which is supporting 359 projects across the UK.

The government has also supported 184 “at risk” coastal heritage assets such as seafront piers, promenades, lighthouses, lidos and marinas with a further £7.5 million investment from the Coastal Revival Fund to allow them to reach their full economic potential.

The latest projects to receive funds are:

Cumbria Coastal Activities Centre – £2.45 million

The centre will create a dedicated facility for water sports and recreational activities at Whitehaven Harbour. The proposed low carbon Cumbria Coastal Activities Centre building will include an activity, arts and community centre with a multi-purpose event and educational space.

Southwold Enterprise Hub – £995,000

The enterprise hub will have space for one retail and 15 business units, including co-working areas for new and existing businesses. A Southwold Development Team will be set up with responsibility for regenerating the local economy, including business support and marketing activity.

Dover Soul – revitalising Dover’s Historic Market Square and Old Town – £2.44 million

To increase the number of visitors to the Old Town, the market square will be rejuvenated and the high street re-established as a leisure destination. Features will include improved pedestrian and public transport access, a water feature and green spaces. Year-round events will attract visitors and the wider community to the square.

Environmental Innovation Hub at Bournemouth and Poole Seafront – £2.39 million

The hub, part of wider improvements of the Dorset coast, will feature eco-accommodation and leisure facilities and improved public lighting. An interactive visitor centre will include a catering kiosk, public toilets, a lifeguard control point and waste transfer station. The hub will focus on reducing, and ultimately eliminating, single-use plastics through a programme of research and public recycling initiatives.

Destination Lydney Harbour, Gloucestershire – £2.1 million

The project will create safe, attractive transport routes into the harbour and develop the area as a recreation and tourism destination. This includes improved signage, art displays and an arts-based walking trail. Existing buildings will be upgraded with new toilets, a heritage information point and a new café. Mooring and seating points will be installed and improvements made to cycle routes, highway and station approaches and canal and harbour docks. Also planned is a community rowing boat building project.

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