£500,000 cash boost for Newhaven Railway Quay regeneration

Lewes MP Maria Caulfield announced the Government funding this week and said it will ‘create a welcoming space between the High Street and the station with plans for coffee shop facilities and a transport hub’.

Newhaven is one of the 101 towns selected to share in the £80million Towns Fund to drive economic growth and improve prospects for communities.

The funding, which ranges from £500,000 up to £1million per town, will be used to support projects that will make a difference to the area, such as new green spaces, the creation of pop-up businesses spaces, pedestrianising streets to encourage walking or cycling and creating of new community hubs to support those living alone.

Newhaven is one of the towns selected for a total allocation of £25million and this is the first part of the money being released for projects to regenerate the town.

Mrs Caulfield said: “I am really excited to see the first tranche of money coming through to support the regeneration of the town.

“Railway Quay is such an important location and it will be great for residents and visitors that there will be a place to wait, grab a coffee, park your bike and meet friends before heading into the town which is set for regeneration after years of lack of investment.”

The funding is part of the overall £3.6billion Towns Fund money allocated – with this initial pot shared out now to get some projects off the ground and give local areas the boost they need.

All 101 towns selected to work towards a Town Deal were given a funding allocation with proposals submitted to the MCHLG in August, before being reviewed by officials and a final decision made by ministers.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Our Towns Fund will help to share prosperity across the country and level-up. This £80 million funding for immediate investment is a real boost for our towns and will help them thrive with investment in transport, technology, skills and culture.

“It will give towns across the opportunity to drive economic growth and improve prospects for their communities, which will be vital as the country responds to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. We are fully behind our high streets and will support local areas to build back better.”

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