More regeneration cash could be on cards for Fylde

Mr Menzies asked the Government what plans it had to help with regeneration in such areas.

He spoke to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick during a Regeneration: Towns and Cities debate in Parliament, and was told a new £4bn levelling up fund will be announced shortly to help towns such as St Annes.

Mr Jenrick, who announced a £6.29m boost for Kirkham last month under the future high streets fund, said: “While we look to the future with optimism as our vaccine programme continues to make progress, we know that Covid-19 has meant an unprecedented challenge for towns and high streets.

“That is why, last month, I announced a new urban centre recovery taskforce, bringing together local leaders and industry experts to help our cities and towns to adapt and take advantage of the new opportunities that may follow.

“This builds on our wider planning reforms, giving shop owners the flexibility to change the use of their property and to rebuild vacant properties as homes. All this comes on top of our £3.6bn towns fund, the £4bn levelling up fund and the new brownfield funding, all of which will ensure that towns have the investment they need to prosper.”

Mr Menzies told the minister: “I am delighted high streets across the North West will benefit from the future high street fund, including Kirkham in my constituency. However, seaside resorts such as St Annes that are already in need of regeneration have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic.”

Mr Jenrick said: “I was very pleased to announce Kirkham will benefit from our future high streets fund, receiving over £6m, which will go a long way to support its ambitious plans. Not only that, but my hon. Friend’s constituents will no doubt benefit, in part at least, from the £39.5m we have awarded to nearby Blackpool.

“He is right that as a seaside town St Annes faces some very significant challenges, which we have spoken about in the past.

“We have provided over £230m of support to other coastal towns through the coastal communities fund, and coastal communities will be very much in our thoughts in the £4bn levelling-up fund and as part of the UK shared prosperity fund.”

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