East Riding High Street Fund

A £300,000 council fund designed to help revitalise up to 13 town centres across the East Riding, including Beverley, has received a number of expressions of interest since launching in June. 

The East Riding High Street Fund will be allocated via a bidding process over the course of three rounds, with places able to make more than one bid for a share of the fund.

Since the launch, interest from the 13 eligible locations has quickly been established with 36 potential projects now being discussed.

So far, the ideas in the first round have included heritage trails, media and communication tools, events infrastructure, town team support, pop up and empty shop initiatives, youth enterprises, buy local campaigns, free town centre Wi-Fi and cultural packages for all of the locations.

Councillor Jane Evison, cabinet portfolio holder for economy, investment and inequalities at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This is an encouraging start for the fund and is practical example of how this council, through prudent financial management, is helping our High Streets and main service centres.

“Our experience from the four Portas Town schemes in Bridlington, Beverley, Goole and Market Weighton demonstrated just how much can be achieved when people and organisations come together with a passion and commitment for making things happen

“Our wish is that more market towns have the opportunity to put their ideas into practice and I would strongly encourage any of the eligible locations to continue working up the ideas and discussing them with their renaissance manager so that we achieve our vision of multi- functional and vibrant town centres.”

Grants of between £2,000 and £5,000 are available for single organisation applicants, whilst joint applications can apply for up to £10,000. The first grant panel assessment for full applications will take place in September and again in October and January.

For further information, contact Beverley's renaissance manager Jane Crossley on jane.crossley@eastriding.gov.uk or 01482 391692.