Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kevin Foster and Jake Berry

Monday 4th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)]

3. What plans he has to use the future high streets fund to transform town centres.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Jake Berry)]

I am delighted to announce that this year will see the return of our Great British High Street awards, in proud partnership with Visa. That is part of this Government’s determination to keep high streets at the heart of our communities, not least supported by our future high streets fund.

[Kevin Foster]

I thank my hon. Friend for his answer. Paignton town centre is in need of reshaping and regeneration to create an attractive destination for the future, hence it will be the focus of a bid for support from the future high streets fund. Can the Minister confirm that Paignton is precisely the type of town centre he has in mind that will benefit from this fund?

[Jake Berry]

My hon. Friend is a redoubtable campaigner for his high street and I have previously met him and local authority leaders to talk about their ambition for their area. It is a competitive fund, but Paignton is indeed well placed to apply for this transformative cash, led I am sure, as always, by my hon. Friend.