Twelve English seaside towns are to benefit from over £4.5 million in the latest round of funding from the government’s three-year Sea Change programme.
Under the scheme seaside towns can apply for grants for a range of architectural improvements including restored promenades, beach-front redesigns and new exhibition spaces that will enhance the areas and help boost visitor numbers around the coast.
“I’m delighted that a further 12 seaside resorts will benefit from the Sea Change scheme," said Barbara Follett, Culture and Tourism Minister. "The plans put forward are great examples of how investing in our culture and heritage can regenerate our seaside communities.”
“I’m so pleased that so many seaside resorts around the country have embraced the chance to get involved in the first year of this programme. I hope it will continue to be successful, helping the restore pride in our communities and boost visitor numbers to our much loved coastline.”
Berwick-upon-Tweed will receive £1 million to restore the 18th century Dewar’s Lane Granary building as an exhibition space and youth hostel. Bexhill-on-Sea is to receive the same amount to continue the next stage of their seafront improvement scheme.
A £480,800 grant for Littlehampton is to help with major design-led improvements along the seafront and Weston-Super-Mare, whose Grade II listed pier was destroyed by fire in July this year but is due to be rebuilt by 2010, will receive £951,447 for similar seafront improvements.
The funding handout is the second tranche of grants to be awarded in the first year of the £45 million programme funded by the Department of Culture and Media and Sport, led by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).
The first large grant awards were confirmed for Blackpool, Torbay and Dover in August this year.
To apply for the open application grants visit CABE’s website at www.cabe.org.uk/
