Union Street and Yorkshire Street are set to get more than £200,000 in government funding in a new government pilot.

The ‘High Street Accelerators’ programme aims to ‘create partnerships that empower residents and community organisations to work together on long-term regeneration plans’, according to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

In the government’s announcement, Oldham’s Yorkshire Street and Union Street were identified as one of 10 areas with ‘struggling high streets’ set to receive an initial £237,000.

Other areas set to receive the money include Tameside’s Hyde Town Centre, Blackpool’s Abingdon Street and Queen Street, and Blackburn’s King William Street.

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Areas selected for the funding will also be able to apply for a share of up to £5 million to improve high street green spaces and create more pleasant environments for residents to meet and socialise, bringing the total funding to £7 million over the next two years.

Minister for Levelling Up Jacob Young said: “It has been a tough few years for our high streets following the pandemic and the changes we’ve seen in consumer behaviour.  

“We know that local people know what’s best for their area, and we’re keen to understand the benefits that High Street Accelerators could bring working with local businesses and their communities.  

“These Accelerators will complement other interventions like High Street Rental Auctions, empowering local people to tackle vacancy and other issues on their high streets.”

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The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said the programme will ‘complement other interventions designed to revive England’s high streets’, alongside legislation to give more powers to allow councils to sell off rental rights for empty properties and changing planning rules.

The full list of areas receiving funding as part of the High Street Accelerators programme:

  • Abingdon Street and Queen Street in Blackpool.
  • Stoke Town Centre in Stoke-on-Trent.
  • Queen Street with Blackburn Road and Church Street in Great Harwood Town Centre in Hyndburn.
  • Scunthorpe High Street in North Lincolnshire.
  • Union Street and Yorkshire Street in Oldham Town Centre.
  • The Stepney area of Beverley Road in Hull.
  • King William Street in Blackburn Town Centre in Blackburn with Darwen.
  • Grimsby Town Centre in North East Lincolnshire.
  • Dovercourt Town Centre in Tendring.
  • Hyde Town Centre in Tameside.

Oldham Council was approached for comment.   

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