Preston will receive a one-off payment of £1.5m as part of the government’s Pride of Place programme.
Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer has announced 330 places which have been granted funding for communities to have new powers to seize boarded up shops, save treasured local pubs or libraries and clean up the eyesores in their area.
The payment will allow proud Prestonians call the shots on where and how money is spent in their communities, restoring local pride and helping them reclaim their streets.
The city centre missed out on receiving £2m per year for the next decade which could have helped to revitalise priority areas of the city centre, however, Ribbleton did receive the funding for the next 10 years.
Communities already have a “right to buy”, making it simpler for them to acquire local assets such as derelict shops, pubs or children’s centres.
Under its devolution bill, currently going through Parliament, the government is doubling the amount of time local groups have to raise the money to make a purchase from six months to 12.
Disused department stores or empty office blocks could be repurposed into new health centres or housing, the government has suggested.
Mark Whittle, from Preston Business Improvement District, said: “We are pleased that parts of Preston will benefit from the Pride in Place programme, and that residents will benefit from this additional support. These new powers will allow communities to help restore parts of their local areas which may have seen better days.
“However, while the funding goes some way to enhancing civic pride, this is only papering over the cracks. The government could and should be doing more to bolster community hubs, such as our high streets. Not least reviewing and overhauling the business rates system, which is outdated and incredibly costly to small businesses. This would help to ensure that more enterprises are able to seriously consider investing in locations that not only serve them as employers but local communities too.
