This will come alongside an “unprecedent new powers” to seize boarded up shops, save derelict pubs and block vape shops as part of the government’s “Pride in Place” programme.
The Bolton News understands the £20M will go to a “historically disadvantaged area” over 10 years while the £1.5M will be paid over two years to allow immediate work to take place.
Council leader Cllr Nick Peel said: “This is a much-needed investment into fixing environmental and negligence issues that blight people’s everyday lives.
“What’s important is that this will be a community led initiative as an alternative to the previous government’s levelling up programme, which in many ways didn’t get to the heart of the real problems.
“The council is now committed to working with the government and communities on delivering on this.”
The £20M will be paid out of a nationwide fund of around £5billion granted to historically deprived areas across the country over a period of ten years.
Payments of £1.5M will be granted to 330 areas around the country including Bolton also as the part of the Pride of Place programme.
The range of powers granted to the same areas are aimed at tackling deprivation and regional inequality.
These will include community right to buy, which will give people the power to buy assets like assets like derelict pubs and create things like new parks.
They will also include enhancing compulsory purchase powers, which will help communities take over boarded up shops or derelict businesses.
This could also apply to larger sites like abandoned department stores or office blocks which could be repurposed into new health centres or housing.
Bolton Council and other authorities will also have greater powers to block developments like new betting shops, vape shops and fake barbers.
Finally, there will be powers given to community groups, local organisations and social clubs to be included on decisions on how the money is spent.
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Bolton West MP Phil Brickell said: “Sorting out our high street and making sure it provides for the needs of our community has been a something I have been championing since I was elected last year. I’m delighted to see that the Government has listened and given our towns the opportunity to take control of our future.
“Bolton will be handed unprecedented new powers and £1.5M to seize boarded shops, save derelict pubs and block gambling and vape shops on the high street.
“Instead of someone at a desk in London making decisions, these new powers will give the people of Bolton control over the destiny of our town centres and will be the largest transfer of power from Westminster to towns like Bolton, Horwich and Westhoughton in history.”
Further details on how the fund will be used are expected next week.
