Yorkshire’s coastal heritage sites set for £3m revamp

Whitby West Pier Lighthouse is among the 77 projects that will benefit from £3m Government funding, Ministers said today (11 December 2015).

Communities Minister Brandon Lewis revealed that the Coastal Revival funding will help secure these key seaside attractions “for generations to come”.

Ranging from theatres to piers and lidos to lighthouses, the projects will each receive grants of up to £50k to support restoration work.

The region’s coastal heritage sites are also set to attract £30m in private and public investment and could support up to 1,500 jobs.

In Yorkshire and Humber and the north-east of England, 11 projects have been awarded almost £500K.

Communities Minister Brandon Lewis said: “From Berwick to St Ives, our coastal communities boast some iconic attractions, with millions visiting them each year.

“But some of our best-loved buildings are falling into a state of disrepair - the £3m Coastal Revival Fund aims to restore them to their former glory.

“This funding will now kick-start the restoration work for these 77 projects across the country, so they can continue to be enjoyed by local people and tourists alike for generations to come.”

The Government aims to revive seaside towns, in an effort to diversify their economy, attract investment and secure their long-term future.

Since 2012, over £120m has been invested in coastal towns through the Coastal Communities Fund.

Today’s £3million Coastal Revival Fund forms part of the government’s long-term goals, and will help communities to start the work to bring back into use buildings which have suffered years of disrepair.

Projects set to benefit from the funding include:

• The renovation of Whitby West Pier Lighthouse which will mean it can open for public access
• Working with the local community on repairing the Cinder Track along the old Scarborough/ Whitby railway
• Restoration of the iconic lighthouse in Spurn, Kingston-upon-Hull, which will open to the public, and plans for the historic World War II buildings
• Repairs and plans to restore Tynemouth Outdoor Pool, creating a leisure facility on the beach.