The Coastal Communities Fund (the CCF) has allocated £36m to stimulate economic growth in seaside towns and cities across Britain, which will create 3,000 jobs and 1,500 apprenticeships.
The CCF aims to combat the economic decline, unemployment, and deprivation in coastal areas. Penny Mordaunt, the Coastal Communities Minister, believes that the funding will help these coastal areas become tourist destinations all year-round.
In the North-East, Redcar and Cleveland Council will receive £900,000 to build an academy for catering at the Bellamy pavilion in Kirkleatham. It is reported that local catering and hospitality businesses have expressed an interest in being partners in the project, as well as groups in both the voluntary and community sectors. It will provide 80 jobs and hundreds of apprenticeship and training places, in the areas of catering, heritage, horticulture, business administration, customer service, and events and marketing. It is hoped that the funding will be a step in the right direction towards the regeneration of the Kirkleatham pavilion area.
Other areas in the North-East to benefit from the fund are the Seaham Marina in Durham, which is to receive £1.7m to improve access to the beach, and new boatyard and water sports facilities, and the South Shields promenade, where £1.5m will be spent to improve public space and access between the North and South areas.
The fund will also give Sunderland £540,000 to establish events and attractions on its seafront, to occur all year round. Whitley Bay has been allocated £2m for regeneration in its city centre, and Blyth in Northumberland will receive £500,000 to build new water sports facilities, and an engineering and offshore vocational centre.
The CCF is part of the Big Lottery Fund, and its money is collected from the Crown Estate’s marine assets. It was established in 2012, in response to a 2007 report which found that coastal communities were likely to have high levels of unemployment, deprivation, and poor quality housing.
Kerry Brundall, a Wills and Probate solicitor in Redcar, says: “It is great news that Redcar has been awarded this funding, which will benefit the local area and provide new employment opportunities.” Kerry has 20 years of experience working as a wills solicitor in Redcar with Macks Solicitors. She is experienced in Wills, Powers of Attorney and the administration of Estates, and specialises in court of protection matters. Solicitors at our Redcar office can be reached at: 01642 293 334.
