£3million Government investment in our coastal communities announced

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has announced plans for a Coastal Revival Fund, which will help communities unlock the economic potential of hard-to-tackle buildings, facilities and amusements such as piers, lidos and proms.

Grants will be used to get restoration projects underway by funding initial work that will be a catalyst that attracts additional financing from the private and charitable sectors.

Seaside areas will also receive support from new Coastal Community Teams. More than £1million will be provided for 110 teams which will create a long-term vision and strategy for their area to tackle the specific challenges their coastal town faces.

Each Coastal Community Team will be awarded £10,000 to establish itself and will receive advice and support from the Lincolnshire County Council-led Coastal Communities Alliance.

Coastal Community Teams will be able to bid for a share of the new heritage fund to tap into the potential local heritage has to benefit the surrounding economy and wider community.

Coun Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economic Development at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We and our colleagues on the alliance are delighted to be leading on the Coastal Community Teams programme in partnership with the DCLG.

“We see this opportunity as recognition of the hard work of all our members in raising awareness of the unique economic issues affecting coastal communities and look forward to seeing many new and successful initiatives arising from the establishment of the teams.”

Coastal Communities Minister Penny Mordaunt added: “There is enormous potential in our coastal areas that we are determined to unlock so they can rise up and create new jobs and play a key part in our long-term economic plan to secure a brighter future for Britain. The announcements we are making are about building capacity and opportunity in our coastal communities.

“Our new heritage fund is an important catalyst for drawing in additional funding and community goodwill that will get the revival of hard-to-tackle local coastal attractions underway and support new businesses.

“Coastal Community Teams will be essential for pulling together a shared vision that makes the most of local heritage, skills and know-how that can make our seaside towns and communities thrive.”