A new three-year grant programme has been launched to help support East Suffolk's high streets, including Felixstowe's Hamilton Road, through town centre improvements, arts and cultural activities and improvements to shopfronts.

The East Suffolk High Street Improvement Programme is part of a range of schemes detailed within the East Suffolk Investment Plan, which was developed as part of a submission to the Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

East Suffolk Council has been allocated £2.75m through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which will be used to support high streets and local businesses, develop workforce and community skills, as well as support those struggling with the cost of living crisis. 

The East Suffolk High Street Improvement Programme is a three-year programme that will offer three grant schemes to improve high streets and town centres across the district: 

• Grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 will be available for town councils, groups and business associations looking to improve accessibility, attract more visitors, enhance the unique character of the town centre through improvements to public areas, improved signage, better digital connectivity and improvements to walking and cycling in towns. (January 2023 – March 2024) 
• Grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 will also be available to town councils, business associations and arts, culture and heritage organisations to support cultural, arts and heritage activities which would increase visitors to town centres. This could be music, dance, sport, education, tours, historical displays, photography, storytelling, crafts and more. (January 2023– March 2024) 
• Additionally, a grant programme focusing on enhancing physical shopfronts will be available. Grants will be available for replacement windows and doors, reinstating traditionally styled shop fronts, painting and rendering of shop fronts, replacement guttering, signage and more. (April 2024 – March 2025) 

Cllr Craig Rivett, East Suffolk's Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development said: "The UK Shared Prosperity Funding will allow us to provide a multi-year package of support for businesses and communities across the district. Reinvigorating our high streets is the first part of this support and it will help to enhance the offer from our unique market towns, supporting local businesses, attracting visitors and helping residents feel proud to live and work in East Suffolk." 

Applications for the first round of funding are now open and close on 17 February.

Apply for funding and check eligibility.