WIREDGOV

Following huge success last year, English seaside towns now have a second chance to apply to our multi-million pound Coastal Communities Fund, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced today (3 April 2013).

Applications for this year’s pot of over £27 million are now open. The funds available have been increased by over £4.1 million so more communities can win awards to boost their economic development. The fund for the projects is raised from the Crown Estate’s marine assets and reinvested in coastal areas.

In 2012, 26 projects in England from Scarborough to Swanage, and from Torbay to Tyneside, received funding to develop their areas, helping to create and safeguard 5,000 jobs, 1,400 training places, 400 volunteering opportunities and support 250 new business start-ups.

The money was also used for a variety of projects including rejuvenating heritage areas and leisure facilities as well as helping businesses embrace digital technology and promote innovation. The projects also attracted additional funding from public and private co-sponsors of over £16 million.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said:

“This government is committed to supporting seaside towns and we know this scheme really made a difference so I’m delighted to announce a second year of funding for coastal communities.

“For too long seaside towns, large and small, were overlooked and this fund gives them a lifeline to grab hold of to create skilled workers and year round jobs that will build stronger communities and stronger local economies.

“The fund was a huge success last year and I want to see as many exceptional projects as possible put forward in year 2.”

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander said:

“Last year we helped organisations around the country to invest in their communities through the Coastal Communities Fund, and I’m delighted that growing marine revenues from the Crown Estate have allowed us to increase the pot by over 15% this year.

“From regenerating the promenade at Seaburn, developing shellfish farming facilities in Devon and giving Swanage and Wareham back their rail link, the funding has made a huge difference to small communities across the UK.

“The success of last year shows how important it is to support small schemes that drive local growth, and I’m sure year 2 will be just as popular.”

You can listen to an audio clip of Eric Pickles talking about the Coastal Communities Fund on our Audioboo channel

Further information

Details of how to bid for the UK-wide pot of £27.8 million are available on the Big Lottery Fund website. The closing date for projects in England is 13 May 2013.

The devolved administrations have a country specific board who will work with Big Fund, the non-Lottery funding operation of the Big Lottery Fund, to deliver the money. In England, the Big Fund makes recommendations to ministers who take the final decision on which projects get approved. The Big Lottery Fund has powers to deliver funding from non-lottery sources for charitable purposes or purposes connected with health, education or the environment.

The Fund will be equal to 50% of the revenues generated by the Crown Estate’s marine assets. Based on the Crown Estate’s Marine revenues in 2010 to 2011 (£47.4 million) the overall fund was worth £23.7 million for the 2012 to 2013 financial year. Funds can be used to support both capital and revenue projects and communities will be encouraged to match funds with other pots of money.