High Streets Task Force pilot areas announced
The government has published the details of 14 areas to receive ‘tailored expert support’ from the High Streets Task Force.
The task force was originally launched in July 2019 by ministers in response to the recommendations of the High Streets Expert Panel, which was chaired by the hugely successful entrepreneur Sir John Timpson.
According to the government, it will give high streets and town centres ‘advice, training and information to adapt and thrive’, piloting a range of products and services with 20 places before rolling out across the country next year.
The first 14 of the 20 areas have been announced today (30 December). They include:
- Salford – Swinton town centre
- Croydon – Thornton Heath
- Staffordshire Moorlands – Cheadle
- Rushmoor – Aldershot town centre
- Birmingham – Stirchley
- Hyndburn – Accrington town centre
- South Lakeland – Kendal
- Preston – Friargate
- Coventry – Coventry city centre
- Hartlepool – Hartlepool town centre
- Cheshire West and Chester – Ellesmere Port town centre
- Sandwell – West Bromwich town centre
- Knowsley – Huyton town centre
- Manchester – Withington district centre
The task force is being run by the Institute for Place Management on behalf of government and is holding an open recruitment for a board chair to provide expert leadership to this programme.
It also includes range of expert groups on reinventing and restructuring places, including the Royal Town Planning Institute and The Design Council.
‘Having announced the first 101 high streets that can benefit from £25 million each back in the summer, I am announcing support from our new High Streets Task Force for a further 20 places and naming 14 of these today,’ said communities secretary, Robert Jenrick.
‘The task force will provide the tools they need to get the best advice possible and a dashboard of key local data.
‘Central to the mission of this new government is levelling up towns and regions, ensuring prosperity and opportunity are available to everyone.
‘Over the course of 2020, we will invest hundreds of millions into projects to transform our town centres and support bespoke plans to meet the needs of individual local communities.’
Photo Credit – Free-Photos (Pixabay)
