A project aimed at attracting more visitors, workers and residents to Plymouth and helping restore pride in the high street is to be given a boost following a decision by the Council Leader Tudor Evans.
The decision to allocate £460,812 of UK Shared Prosperity Funds for the Love Plymouth project will support activities by Plymouth City Centre Company, Destination Plymouth and Plymouth Waterfront Partnership to increase footfall and improve the look and feel of public spaces.
The focus is on the city centre and creating a greener waterfront and will include national marketing, enhancing the events programme, streetscape improvements in the West End to build on the planters installed last year and supporting a community event in Frankfort Gate.
The Love Plymouth Project will see more work to attract visitors and shoppers, including branding and marketing, street art and performance and other cultural activities.
It also includes a business support grant scheme to help reduce the number of empty units, increase business confidence, attract more customers and protect and create jobs.
There are also plans to install vehicle charging points on the Hoe for electric ice cream vans.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a Government funding stream, which is administered by the Plymouth City Council as the accountable body.
Plymouth has been allocated £3.1m for three years (2022/23 - 2024/25) to support a mix of revenue and capital spend.
Council Leader Tudor Evans said: “Plymouth has a huge amount to offer both residents and visitors and this additional investment will build on the excellent work already being done by the business improvement districts to draw in shoppers and visitors to the city.
“Businesses have had a particularly tough time of it over the last few years so I am really pleased that the Love Plymouth project will help make key areas of the waterfront and city centre even more attractive place to visit and shop.”
Steve Hughes, Chief Executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, said: "We are delighted to be able to get a share of this government funding to help support our events programme and provide more support for our city centre businesses.”