Heywood is one of 55 ‘overlooked’ UK towns to each be given £20 million over a 10-year period to help regenerate high streets and tackle anti-social behaviour.

This will mean that towns will benefit from a £1.1 billion levelling up investment, as part of a long-term plan for towns that provide long-term investment in towns that have been overlooked and taken for granted. 

Under the new approach, local people will be put in charge, and given the tools to change their town’s long-term future, including improving transport and growing the local economy.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “Towns are the place most of us call home and where most of us go to work.

“But politicians have always taken towns for granted and focused on cities.  

“The result is the half-empty high streets, run-down shopping centres and anti-social behaviour that undermine many towns’ prosperity and hold back people’s opportunity – and without a new approach, these problems will only get worse.

“Our Long-Term Plan for towns puts funding in the hands of local people themselves to invest in line with their priorities, over the long-term.

“That is how we level up.”

Towns that will be given the opportunity to develop a long-term plan supported by a Towns Board, include six in the North East, 10 in the North West, and four in the West Midlands.

In total, 55 towns will benefit from the UK-wide approach, including seven towns in Scotland and four in Wales.  

This plan builds on the government’s central aim to level up the UK by putting more power and money in the hands of people.

Just last year The Bury Times revealed that as part of a £100million investment £50m would be invested in a Rochdale to Heywood tram-train, included in the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement for Greater Manchester.

A Town Board will be set up to bring together community leaders, employers, local authorities, and the local MP, to deliver the Long-Term Plan for their town and put it to local people for consultation.   

Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove said: “We know that in our towns the values of hard work and solidarity, common sense and common purpose, endeavour and quiet patriotism have endured across generations.

“But for too long, too many of our great British towns have been overlooked and undervalued.  

“We are putting this right through our Long-Term Plan for Towns backed by over £1 billion of levelling up funding.   

“This will empower communities in every part of the UK to take back control of their future, taking long term decisions in the interests of local people.

“It will mean more jobs, more opportunities and a brighter future for our towns and the people who live and work in them.”

Heywood councillors and local MP Chris Clarkson have been contacted for comment.