£36m announced for coastal projects

The fifth round of the government’s Coastal Communities and Revival Funds will see 26 projects receive over £36 million in funding to help develop and improve tourist attractions.

The funding will go towards supporting innovative businesses, protecting historic buildings, new museums and restoration of coastal heritage sites.

The Coastal Communities Fund and Coastal Revival Fund projects are forecast to collectively to support over 15,000 jobs and attract up to £40 million in additional investment from public and private sector sources.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said:

"All of the ambitious projects receiving funding were designed and developed by local people who know what will make the biggest difference to their areas.

"The sheer range of ideas demonstrate the potential of our coastal communities and will all create good jobs, boost growth and improve people’s lives now and in the future."

Some of the successful projects to receive funds include:

Bord Waalk National Bird Sculpture Trail – Amble Development Trust, Northumberland (Coastal Communities Fund)
£396,000 awarded to the Bord Waalk – National Bird Sculpture Trail in Amble to create a bird themed sculpture trail of national significance to build on the highly successful Harbour Village project and raise the profile of Amble as a tourist destination.

Connecting Cumbria’s Hidden Coast – Copeland Borough Council, Cumbria (Coastal Communities Fund)
£1.06 million awarded to a project to improve visitor infrastructure, facilities and activities along Cumbria’s ‘hidden’ coast to create new visitor demand and enhance the coastal destination offer.

Blackpool Museum Project – The AMUSEUM, Blackpool City Council, Lancashire (Coastal Communities Fund)
£1.75 million awarded to deliver the AMUSEUM – Britain’s first museum telling the story of Blackpool and its role in the development of British popular entertainment and the great British seaside holiday.

SeaGrown – putting Scarborough at the heart of the English Seaweed Industry – SeaGrown Ltd, Scarborough, Yorkshire (Coastal Communities Fund)
£472,000 awarded to establish England’s first commercial seaweed hatchery, cultivation site and outreach centre in Scarborough, driving economic growth by creating sustainable jobs in sectors currently offering few opportunities in the area.

Seafront Improvement – New Forest District Council, Milford-on-Sea (Coastal Revival Fund)
£50,000 awarded to implement Seafront Improvement (promenade access works) for improved coastal protection and coastal access along a 240 metre frontage.

Salcombe Jubilee Pier Revival – South Hams District Council, Salcombe (Coastal Revival Fund)
£50,000 awarded to conduct work to prevent further structural deterioration of the pier and to undertake work to promote its historical value to the many people that use it.

The Coastal Communities Fund was introduced in 2012 and supports projects in the UK delivering sustainable growth and jobs in coastal areas.

The Coastal Revival Fund was introduced in 2015 to help coastal areas bring at risk heritage and community assets back into economic use. Applications to the current round of CRF were invited in summer 2018.