The Government has announced the second phase of a multi-million pound fund designed to ‘transform’ high streets across the country.

The high streets minister Jake Berry has confirmed that 50 places are going through to the second phase of the Future High Streets Fund, which was launched in December 2018.

The successful towns – from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Penzance in Cornwall – will now receive up to £150,000 of the £675m fund to help boost town centres.

‘Our high streets lie at the heart of local communities – creating jobs, boosting the economy and helping small businesses thrive,’ said Theresa May last Friday.

‘But new technology and changes in the way we shop means they also face growing challenges, so I’m delighted over 50 towns will initially benefit from this scheme.

‘The funding will breathe new life into town centres and – together with measures such as small business rate cuts and opening up empty shops – will transform our high streets for the future.’

Speaking ahead of a visit to Morecambe town centre High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP said: ‘High Streets are a crucial part of our local economies and people care about them because they are also the centres of their community.

‘But we recognise that changing consumer behaviour and the rise of online shopping presents a significant challenge and that’s why we are taking action to help them evolve.

‘Many of our high streets are successfully re-inventing themselves and with these new plans now in development, local leaders, who know their areas best, will be driving forward the transformation of their town centres into further great success stories.’