Department for Culture Media and Sport
sea change
DCMS has allocated £38 million to fund the regeneration of 32 English seaside resorts, from 2008-2011.
The investment is being used to stimulate wider improvement and economic benefits in disadvantaged English coastal resorts.
It supports local authorities to invest in arts, public space, cultural and heritage projects. Knowledge gained during the programme about ways to support seaside resorts via culture and heritage will be shared between local authorities and other project partners.
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) lead the programme on behalf of DCMS, working in partnership with the Regional Development Agencies, English Heritage, Arts Council England, Museums, Libraries & Archives Council, Heritage Lottery Fund and the BIG Lottery Fund.
Aims
The project aims to catalyse further sustainable, social and economic regeneration in seaside resorts that will make a real difference to the lives of local people, and renew community pride. It intends to bring in new visitors and revenue and increase stay time within resorts, benefiting the local business community as a whole.
The programme links to:
Outputs
It will generate innovative and inspirational projects which provide a high quality of experience and make a lasting difference to resorts, many of which would not be realized without this investment.
It will support CLG’s wider efforts to generate a cross-government approach to the key challenges facing coastal towns.
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Programme structure
There are three waves in the programme:
Wave one
1 August 2008 Margaret Hodge announced details of the projects which would receive large grants in wave one of the large grants programme:
- Blackpool: The Tower Festival Headland Project – £4,000,000
- Dover: Connecting Culture’s Project (Dover Castle) – £3,850,000
- Torbay: Cockington Court & Berry Head On-the-Edge Projects within the English Riviera Geopark – £2,250,000
21 October 2008 Barbara Follett announced details of the 12 successful applicants, from a total of 23, which will receive smaller grants in wave one of the open application programme:
- Berwick-upon-Tweed - Berwick £1,000,000
- Rother District Council – Bexhill-on-sea £1,000,000
- Arun District Council - Littlehampton £480,800
- Devon County Council – Teign £376,676
- Bournemouth District Council – Boscombe £455,000
- North Somerset Council – Weston-Super-Mare £951,447
- Torridge District Council – Westward Ho! £100,000 – development grant
- North Tyneside Council – North Tyneside £29,525 – feasibility grant
- Wyre Borough Council – Wyre £30,000 – feasibility grant
- Thanet District Council – Margate £30,000 – feasibility grant
- North Devon Council – Ilfracombe £30,000 – feasibility grant
- East Riding of Yorkshire Council – Withernsea £30,000 – feasibility grant
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Wave two
On 20 January 2009, Barbara Follett announced details of those projects that will receive large grants in wave two of the large grant programme:
- Bridlington: Bridlington Spa Environs Phase 2 – £3m
- Great Yarmouth: St George’s Chapel and King Street Regeneration – £3m
- Hastings: The Stade – £2m
- Southport: Southport Cultural Centre – £4m
On 26 March 2009, Barbara Follett announced details of the nine successful applicants which will receive smaller grants in wave two of the open application programme.
- South Tyneside: Foreshore, South Shields – £1,000,000
- Wansbeck District Council: Newbiggin – £1,000,000
- Worthing: Worthing – £500,000
- Kent County Council: Coastal area between Whitstable and Margate – £30,000 – feasibility grant
- Essex County Council: Jaywick – £30,000 – feasibility grant
- North Norfolk: Wells – £25,000 – feasibility grant
- Penwith: Penzance – £30,000 – Feasibility grant
- Swale Borough Council: Leysdown – £24,000 – feasibility grant
- Teignbridge: Dawlish – £26,500 – feasibility grant
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Wave three
On 16 November 2009, the seven successful applicants in wave three of the programme were announced:
- Thanet District Council: Margate – £3,700,000
- North Tyneside Council: Tynemouth – £2,000,000
- Sunderland City Council: Roker – £1,000,000
- Cornwall County Council: Porthmeor – £900,000
- Wyre Borough Council: Fleetwood – £835,000
- Barrow Borough Council: Piel Island – £280,000
- Plymouth City Council – Plymouth – £100,000 – development grant
Sea Change – DCMS press release November 2009
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