There has been a real wave of positive news coming from government in recent months when it comes to the future of our high streets and town centres. If you have been wondering whether anyone at a national level actually cares about places like Grimsby, the answer is a clear yes — and the commitments being made are significant.
We wanted to pull together everything that has been announced so far in 2026, because taken together, it paints a picture of a country that is starting to take its town centres seriously again. And for those of us already working to build something better here in Grimsby, it is a real source of encouragement.
A New High Streets Strategy Is Coming
The government has confirmed that it will publish a dedicated High Streets Strategy later this year. This is not just a vague promise. It has already been backed by a ministerial statement in Parliament and by some serious early funding commitments.
What matters most about this strategy is the thinking behind it. The government has recognised that high streets are not just about shops. They are about community life, local services, health, culture, and belonging. That is exactly the kind of message we have been championing here in Grimsby through the 2025 Group, and it is good to see it reflected at a national level.
£150 Million to Turn the Tide
In January 2026, the government announced £150 million of targeted funding to support struggling high streets across England. The money is aimed at the places that have been hit hardest by decline and is designed to improve neglected shopfronts, bring empty units back into use, and support local independent businesses.
This is the first major step in the broader High Streets Strategy, with more details on how and where the money will be allocated expected in the coming months.
£301 Million for High Streets Innovation Partnerships
In March 2026, the government went further with a £301 million commitment to create High Streets Innovation Partnerships. These partnerships are designed to help communities reimagine their town centres as mixed-use spaces — not just for retail, but for homes, health services, community hubs, libraries and green spaces.
Local businesses and organisations will be encouraged to get involved, and the government has said that locations will be confirmed in due course. This is a real opportunity for places like Grimsby that are already doing the hard work of rethinking what a town centre can be.
The same announcement also included funding to support a summer of high street activity in 2026, with plans to boost footfall through events and experiences — timed to coincide with major national moments including the World Cup.
Pride in Place — A £5.8 Billion Programme
All of these announcements sit within the government's wider Pride in Place programme, which now represents up to £5.8 billion of investment in communities across the country. Over 280 areas are already taking part, with 40 new communities recently named to join the programme — each receiving £20 million over the next decade to spend on what matters most to local people.
And here is the big news for us locally — Grimsby is one of those towns. We have been awarded £20 million over 10 years through the Pride in Place programme. That is a genuinely significant commitment to our town centre and our community, and it means that real, long-term investment is now on the table to support the kind of change we all want to see.
The programme is built around the idea that communities themselves should decide how money is spent. That means local neighbourhood boards shaping investment around the things that actually matter — whether that is a stronger high street, safer public spaces, better opportunities for young people, or community facilities that bring people together.
For Grimsby, this is a chance to make sure the funding goes where it will make the biggest difference — guided by the people who know this town best. Our Future have been working with the local community over the last few years to help achieve this.
New Powers to Tackle Empty Shops
One of the most practical changes is the introduction of High Street Rental Auctions. These give councils the power to step in when a commercial property has been left empty for more than a year and auction a lease on behalf of the landlord.
The idea is simple. If a landlord is sitting on an empty unit and doing nothing with it, the council can put it up for auction so that a local business or community group can move in. Councils across the country are already starting to use these powers, and in many cases, the mere introduction of the scheme has been enough to prompt landlords to act.
For any town centre that has struggled with boarded-up shops, this is a real step forward.
Permanently Lower Business Rates for High Street Businesses
From April 2026, the government has introduced permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. This replaces the temporary relief schemes that have been rolled over year after year since the pandemic, giving businesses something they have not had for a long time — certainty.
The new system means that high street shops, restaurants, pubs, cafes and leisure venues with rateable values under £500,000 will pay a lower rate than before.
The government estimates that over 35,000 pubs and nearly 30,000 restaurants will benefit over the next three years. On top of that, eligible pubs and live music venues will receive an additional 15 per cent relief, with their bills frozen in real terms for a further two years.
To fund the lower rates for high street businesses, larger distribution warehouses — including those used by major online retailers — will pay more. The intention is clear: level the playing field between the high street and the online giants.
Protecting Community Assets
The government is also introducing a new Community Right to Buy through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. This will give local people greater power to save valued community assets — things like pubs, sports clubs and historic buildings — when they come up for sale.
There are also new protections against so-called "pub deserts", with a ban on losing the last remaining community facility in any given area. And councils are being given stronger powers to say no to the proliferation of betting shops and vape stores on the high street, helping to protect the character of town centres.
What This Means for Grimsby
None of these announcements are about Grimsby specifically — at least not yet. But they matter because they show a clear shift in national thinking. The government is recognising what many of us already know: that town centres are the heart of community life, and they need proper support to thrive.
Here in Grimsby, we are already seeing what is possible when people come together around a shared vision for the town centre.
From the community activity at the CARE Hub and Grimsby Minster, to the energy around Riverhead Square and the Farmers Market, to the investment going into spaces like Horizon Youth Zone, St James House and the Hive — there is real momentum.
The government's commitments give us confidence that this kind of local effort is being backed up at a national level. More funding, stronger powers for councils, fairer business rates, and a genuine strategy for the future of high streets — these are all things that can make a real difference.
Be Part of the Positive
This is an exciting time for town centres across the country, and Grimsby is well placed to benefit. But the future of any town centre is not just about government funding or national strategy. It is about all of us — choosing to support local businesses, attending events, using our town centre, and believing that better things are possible.
The 2025 Group will keep sharing updates as more details emerge about how these national programmes will work on the ground. In the meantime, if you want to be part of the positive change happening in Grimsby town centre, the best thing you can do is come in, look around, and see it for yourself.
This post was published in March 2026. Details of how national funding will be allocated to specific places are expected to be confirmed later in the year. We will share any updates relevant to Grimsby as they become available.