YOUNG people are "firmly in the driving seat" of a major regeneration project in Leigh.
It’s one of several UK communities set to benefit from a share of the Government’s £319 million Pride in Place strategy, which aims to transform town centres, improve public spaces and empower local people.
Leigh’s project is being carried out with strong youth leadership, broad community engagement and a focus on power-sharing.
It’s part of a national programme designed to deliver long-term investment and renewal in some of the country’s most deprived neighbourhoods.
Steve Reed, Communities Secretary, said: "People have watched their communities decline for too long, with little say over how they're run.
"This government is determined to change that — giving communities the tools, the funding and the power they need to rebuild.
"From new playgrounds to reimagined high streets, we're putting power back in people's hands.
"People across the country will see and feel the difference this investment makes, restoring pride in local areas."
The investment package is divided into four strands.
These include £301 million for High Streets Innovation Partnerships, to help towns repurpose retail areas into mixed-use spaces with new homes, health facilities, community hubs and green areas.
The funding will also support summer events and other activities to boost foot traffic on high streets.
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An additional £18 million will be spent on creating or upgrading playgrounds in 66 deprived areas, including Wigan.
This aims to ensure children have access to safe, high-quality play spaces, with a focus on communities with the highest levels of child income deprivation and the poorest access to facilities.
The programme also arms communities with £20 million over ten years as part of the long-term Pride in Place scheme.
This funding is designed to support locally chosen priorities and regenerate neighbourhoods over a sustained period.
Five pilot projects will also test a new approach to public spending, by pooling resources from councils, the NHS, schools and other agencies to address complex social challenges.
These include supporting young people with mental health needs in the Black Country, reducing youth offending in the North East, and tackling SEND pressures in Liverpool.
If successful, this model could be rolled out nationwide.
Other communities involved in the Pride in Place programme include Canvey Island, Clifton, Dewsbury, Dudley, Durham, Eastbourne, Greenock, Torquay and Wrexham.
Each area is developing its own tailored regeneration plan, focused on local priorities such as crime prevention, job creation, youth services and improved public spaces.
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