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£45 million cultural investment in seaside resorts

The investment will be targeted at disadvantaged coastal resorts around England and is intended to stimulate wider improvements and economic benefits in the area.

The programme, which will see £15 million invested in heritage and culture each year from 2008 – 2011, will be led by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). It will be responsible for identifying projects – such as historic high streets and public spaces, galleries or concert halls - where investment in the cultural and heritage infrastructure will help bring life back to run-down seaside resort.

CABE will also seek additional financial support for successful projects from both public and private sector investors, further stimulating improvements to the local environment and economy. The Big Lottery Fund, which already invests millions in seaside towns, will be an important partner.

Mr Purnell said:

“England’s coastal resorts are a much-loved part of our heritage, but it’s a sad fact that many have been in decline in recent decades.

“We know that public investment in cultural projects and public spaces can give a huge kick-start to local regeneration. It can unlock additional funding to help restore decaying infrastructure and act as a catalyst to stimulate economic growth. By increasing opportunity and enhancing the local environment it can significantly improve the quality of life for residents.

“This £45 million fund will be targeted where it can make a real difference, investing in projects with distinct cultural or heritage merit in seaside resorts blighted by deprivation. And some of our finest, historical coastal resorts will be given a new lease of life.”

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:

"We need to ensure that our coastal resorts share in rising national prosperity which is why we have established a cross-Government programme looking at what more can be done to ensure that every coastal area benefits.

"This new investment builds upon the rich cultural heritage of our coastal towns and is an important step forward to ensuring that no-one is disadvantaged by where they live."

Richard Simmons, CABE chief executive, said:

“This is a chance for British seaside resorts to recapture the flair and importance they held in the Victorian age. There are already some wonderful examples of good design and cultural investment breathing life back into our coastal towns – just think of Heatherwick’s East Beach Café in Littlehampton, or Cleveleys in Lancashire where even coastal protection defences can be made beautiful enough to attract more visitors."

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Money will be made available to projects of different sizes, and it is intended that alongside a small number of major schemes, smaller projects around the coast will be funded each year. Regional Development Agencies will help identify areas in particular need of investment.

CABE will lead the project, working with the Regional Development Agencies, English Heritage, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and Arts Council England.

DCMS is working with the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) who are leading a review of cross-Government work to identify what more may be done to address the specific issues affecting coastal towns. CLG is also developing a Regeneration Framework to identify the kind of places, such as some coastal towns, where regeneration activity might best be focused.

Notes for editors

1. The fund has been earmarked as part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Comprehensive Spending Review Settlement for 2008 – 2011.
2. Detailed criteria will now be developed by CABE working with the other partners and announced by them in due course.
3. The Big Lottery Fund invests £millions each year in seaside towns, including most recently [October] £2 million to provide a new library in the centre of Blackpool. 

 

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