A sweeping £319 million investment aims to breathe new life into struggling high streets and provide safer, higher-quality play areas for children across some of the country’s most deprived
communities.
The funding forms a central pillar of the government’s Pride in Place strategy — a long-term effort to restore opportunity, community identity, and local decision-making power in neighbourhoods that have faced years of decline.
Reimagining the high street
The largest share of the funding — £301 million — will go toward High Streets Innovation Partnerships, designed to help communities rethink how their town centres function in a changing economy.
Rather than relying solely on retail, high streets could be transformed into vibrant, mixed-use spaces. Plans include integrating housing, healthcare services, libraries, community hubs, and green spaces into town centres, creating destinations that serve everyday needs.
Local businesses and organisations will play a key role in shaping these changes, with selected locations expected to be announced later.
In the short term, the funding will also support a nationwide “summer of activity” to increase footfall, aligning with major cultural and sporting events such as the upcoming World Cup.
Investing in Children’s play
Alongside high street regeneration, £18 million has been earmarked to improve children’s play facilities in 66 of the most disadvantaged communities.
The funding will be used to install new playgrounds or upgrade existing ones, targeting areas where child poverty is highest and access to safe play spaces is limited — from Tyneside to Torquay.
Importantly, councils will receive this funding directly, without the need to compete or submit bids, speeding up delivery and ensuring resources reach those most in need.
Putting communities in control
The initiative also accelerates plans already underway in the first phase of 'Pride in Place', with selected areas receiving up to £20 million over a decade to spend on locally determined priorities.
Projects already progressing highlight the diversity of community-led regeneration:
- Canvey Island is focusing on cost-of-living challenges, with investment in jobs, wages, and town centre improvements.
- Clifton will see the creation of a new community hub alongside upgrades to parks and local services.
- Dewsbury is tackling crime and anti-social behaviour through a dedicated enforcement and prevention team.
- Durham plans to establish a youth-focused fund while boosting street safety and active travel.
- Eastbourne is bringing vacant buildings back into use to revitalise the town centre and seafront.
- Greenock is developing an Enterprise Hub to support start-ups and attract investment.
- Wrexham will benefit from a new youth zone and enhanced town centre safety measures.
A new approach to public spending
In a significant shift, five pilot projects will test a new model of public sector collaboration. Local agencies — including councils, the NHS, and schools — will pool their budgets and work jointly, rather than operating independently.
These pilots will focus on pressing social issues such as special educational needs (SEND) in Liverpool, youth offending in the North East, and mental health support for teenagers in the Black Country.
If successful, the government plans to expand this approach nationwide.
“Restoring pride in communities”
Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: “People have watched their communities decline for too long, with little say over how they’re run. This government is determined to change that — giving communities the tools, the funding and the power they need to rebuild.
From new playgrounds to reimagined high streets, we’re putting power back in people’s hands. People across the country will see and feel the difference this investment makes, restoring pride in local areas.”
He added that the investment would deliver visible improvements — from revitalised high streets to modern playgrounds — while putting decision-making back into local hands.