EMPTY buildings in Eastbourne could be given a new lease of life under a £210 million government package aimed at reviving town centres across England.
The funding, announced on September 25, will support the conversion of derelict premises into shared workspaces, cafés, health centres and community hubs.
However, the announcement does not currently name any Eastbourne projects or specify how much, if any, funding the town will receive.
The largest part of the package is a new £125 million Derelict Buildings Fund, which will support councils in transforming unused buildings into facilities their communities need.
Potential projects nationally include bringing vacant shopping centres, disused cinemas and other abandoned premises back into use.
A further £65 million will help communities rescue and refurbish buildings and businesses at risk of closure, including pubs and sports clubs.
Another £10 million will support High Street Rental Auctions, intended to bring commercial properties that have been vacant for 12 months or more back into occupation.
The remaining £10 million will fund a regional Co-operative Development Programme, helping establish businesses owned and run by their staff, customers and communities.
For Eastbourne, the potential opportunity lies in returning empty premises to productive use and creating new reasons for residents and visitors to spend time in the town centre. Any local benefit will depend on how the funding is distributed and which projects receive support.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: “Nobody knows a high street better than the community that it belongs to.”
The government says it will publish a wider high streets strategy later this year.
The £210 million package comes from money already earmarked for high street support and regeneration by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
