The Government has unveiled its Plan for Neighbourhoods, with £1.5bn being allocated to 75 towns across the UK over the next 10 years.
Under the Plan for Neighbourhoods, Kirkby has been allocated £19.5m. This is the previously allocated £19.5m under the previous Government’s “Long Term Plan for Towns” fund.
The plan focusses on three long-term aims – to build thriving places, strengthen communities and empower people to taking back control instead of “sticking plaster” policies.
Each area will benefit from a ‘Neighbourhood Board’, bringing together residents, local businesses and grassroots campaigners to set a vision for the future of their community.
The funding will focus more explicitly on community regeneration that is fully-funded as well as doubling the policy options that local areas can choose to spend money on.
Already, Kirkby has an established Board, Chaired by Max Steinberg CBE DL. The Board brings together residents, businesses and community campaigners and it will decide on how to spend the funding, choosing from options that include rejuvenating highstreets, local parks, youth clubs, cultural venues and health services.
Chair of the Kirkby Board, Max Steinberg CBE DL, said:
“I’m delighted that the Government has today confirmed Kirkby’s £19.5m funding allocation.
“Last year, we had already started to make inroads in Kirkby by asking the community about their priorities and we had convened our first Board meeting, but progress had to stop due to the change in Government and waiting for clarity on whether the funding would continue.
“Now that we have had this, we will pick up again where we left off and develop our Neighbourhood Plan, working with the local community to deliver on the issues that are important to them.”
The funding will be released from April 2025 and the Plan for Neighbourhoods areas were chosen based on a number of factors including deprivation and healthy life expectancy.