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Cultural Heritage: Urban Areas

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled Answered 20 October 2025UIN 79628

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent progress she has made on heritage high street regeneration programmes.

Answered by Ian Murray

This year the government launched new funding for heritage which will benefit high streets and beyond.

The £15m Heritage at Risk Capital Fund which enables individuals and organisations in the most deprived neighbourhoods in England to rescue and repair at-risk historic sites and buildings that bring people together, like shops, pubs, parks and town halls. In August 2025, funding was announced for 37 much-loved historic buildings and sites, many of which are located on high streets and in town centres.

Alongside this, the £4.85m Heritage Revival Fund has a particular emphasis on town centres and helps to rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings in England, enabling community organisations, charities and social enterprises to take ownership and repurpose sites such as theatres, department stores and former banks.

These funds will support the government’s Pride in Place Strategy, announced by the Prime Minister on 25th September 2025, to tackle local issues in 339 of the UK's most disadvantaged communities.

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