Labour has unveiled its Plan for Neighbourhoods, with £1.5 billion being handed to towns across the UK to create growth and opportunities. 75 towns across the UK will receive up to £20m of funding with specialist support over the next decade to unleash their full potential. Ten towns in the East Midlands, including Chesterfield, will receive £20 million.

Taking inspiration from John Prescott’s ‘New Deal for Communities’ – which delivered long-lasting changes still seen today – Labour’s funding recognises that communities have the answers to the local problems they face and should be given more control over what they spend their money on.

Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield, said “I’m delighted that Chesterfield is to receive £20 million from the the new Plan for Neighbourhood’s funding. This will provide real opportunities for improving the town centre, attracting new businesses, and growing the local economy. It will also provide opportunities for new youth clubs, cultural venues and other social improvements. We all know that our town centres and high streets have struggled with the rise of online shopping and the hangover from Tory austerity and the pandemic, but this funding will help turn things around. This is the difference you get with a Labour Government.

Labour is focusing on three long-term aims – to build thriving places, strengthen communities and empower people to taking back control instead of sticking plaster policies. The new ‘Neighbourhood Board’ will bring together residents, local business owners and grassroots campaigners to set a vision for the future of their community – ensuring local voices are deciding what we want the future of our town to be.”

Today’s announcement is in contrast to unfunded pledges from the previous government. The Plan for Neighbourhoods doubles the scope of the types of projects that can benefit and is now fully aligned with the Government’s long-term Plan for Change missions: breaking down barriers to opportunity and kickstarting economic growth.

Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner MP said “For years, too many neighbourhoods have been starved of investment, despite their potential to thrive and grow. Communities across the UK have so much to offer – rich cultural capital, unique heritage but most of all, an understanding of their own neighbourhood. We will do things differently, our fully funded Plan for Neighbourhoods puts local people in the driving seat of their potential, having control of where the Whitehall cash goes – what issues they want to tackle, where they want to regenerate and what growth they want turbocharge.”

In each area, the government will support the establishment of a new ‘Neighbourhood Board’, bringing together residents, local businesses, and grassroots campaigners to draw up and implement a new vision for their neighbourhood.

Each board will decide how to spend up to £20 million of funding and support. The government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods’ ultimate aim is to create thriving places, strengthen communities, and empower local people to take back control in towns across the country.

By creating thriving places, strengthening communities, and empowering people to take back control areas can drive forward their priorities and the Government’s long-term Plan for Change missions: breaking down barriers to opportunity and kickstarting economic growth.

Through our ambitious devolution plans already underway, creating the greatest shift in power from Whitehall to local areas across England –  change and growth for every corner of the country is already being seen. Leaders with skin in the game are finally able to take the lead on decision making, tackling the issues that matter to voters, breaking down barriers to opportunity and boosting economic growth.