Grants of up to £100,000 to boost Cornish High Streets

St Austell Town Council is already looking at ways to improve its High Street

Communities across Cornwall can apply for grants of up to £100,000 to improve High Streets, the council has said.

Cornwall Council said communities were invited to apply for the Town Delivery Fund.

The grants were to "support ambitions" to improve High Streets for residents and businesses, it added.

"Cornwall Council is committed to investing in our town centres, allowing them to not only survive but to thrive," said councillor Louis Gardner.

Mr Gardner, cabinet portfolio holder for economy, added: "We want to help communities across Cornwall to develop their own ambitions for their High Streets and improve the future for their residents.

"This funding is about helping communities to examine their town centres and the continuing role they can play in supporting community and business activity."

He said more than £1m had already been invested as part of the Town Vitality Fund.

Grants of £5,000 to £100,000 are available to fund projects which make use of vacant premises, initiatives which boost footfall or establish regular markets in town centres.

Improvements such as new signage could also form part of a pitch, as could changes to shop fronts and new pop-up events, the council said.

The Town Delivery Fund has been set up with funding from the Town Centre Revitalisation Fund, established by Cornwall Council in 2020.