£10 million for five more coastal communities

Five transformational projects along the Great British Coast have collectively been awarded more than £10 million from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund.

The investment will support coastal projects in Cumbria, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Kent and Suffolk to create jobs, boost tourism, improve transport and protect much-loved coastal heritage sites, with the chosen projects forecast to support nearly 1,000 jobs and attract up to £7.9 million in additional investment from public and private sector sources.

This includes the Cumbria Coastal Activities Centre, which will receive £2.45 million, £995,000 for the Southwold Enterprise Hub, revitalising Dover’s Historic Market Square and Old Town with £2.44 million investment, £2.39 million for the Environmental Innovation Hub at Bournemouth and Poole Seafront, and Destination Lydney Harbour in Gloucestershire, which will get £2.1 million.

Jake Berry, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, said: “Ensuring our coastal towns have the support they need to thrive is at the heart of this Government’s plan to level up every part of the UK. Building on our £228 million investment into coastal communities, the projects receiving funding today were designed by local people who know best what will bring the biggest benefit to their community. Their fantastic ideas demonstrate the raw potential of our coastal towns and will help create good jobs, boost economic growth and improve people’s lives as we leave the EU on 31 October.”

The latest announcement brings the total Coastal Communities Fund investment to £228 million.