The key metrics identified in the Levelling Up White Paper show CIoS as one of the areas in the UK most in need of levelling-up. At 74.1 % of the UK average per filled job, our productivity lags the rest of the UK, as do wages and levels of economic investment. CIoS, along with the rest of the South West, has the worst educational outcomes for disadvantaged young people in the country, and low social mobility compared with other areas. The need to stimulate significant improvements in performance is therefore clear.
Our places matter and whether they are classified as urban or rural, towns, villages, hamlets or islands they all have a role to play in delivering improvements in our economy. Therefore, applications are invited from retail and non-retail businesses, property owners (public/private/third sector), developers and skills providers across our towns, rural, coastal and island settlements with a particular focus on projects that can regenerate existing retail centres and/or improve the productivity of business located on our high streets and other neighbourhood shopping areas.
Businesses and property owners/developers located adjacent to our high streets and neighbourhood shopping areas can also apply if they can demonstrate that their project can help to generate increased footfall in the settlement where they are based.
For full details on the Town, Rural and Coastal High Street Development and Skills Programme, Download the full initiation form
Next steps
Please fill out the details of your project via the initial enquiry form below. The Good Growth team will respond to you within five working days with the next steps.
The Good Growth team will then send you the relevant application form, where applicable, which will need to be returned to the Good Growth team via email in advance of the application deadline.
More information on what will be required in your application is available on the Application Support page.