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Great British Coast gets over £36m funding for tourist attractions

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Amuseum Blackpool Buttress Architects

Seventy projects on the British coast have been awarded a total of over £36 million from a UK government fund for coastal communities, in a bid to develop and improve tourist attractions, create jobs and promote socio-economic growth.

The money, part of the Coastal Communities Fund, will go towards supporting innovative businesses, protecting historic buildings and new museums and restoring much-loved coastal heritage sites.

The 26 new projects are forecast to support over 15,000 jobs, and attract up to £40 million in additional investment from public and private sector sources.

Some of the successful projects to receive funds include:

  • Experience Morecambe Bay – £2.35m awarded towards a £5.55 million project to create major, new transformational visitor attractions along Morecambe Bay.
  • Bord Waalk – £396,000 given to the National Bird Sculpture Trail in Amble to create a bird-themed sculpture trail and raise the profile of Amble as a tourist destination.
  • Amuseum – £1.75m awarded to the first museum telling the story of Blackpool and its role in the development of popular entertainment and the seaside holiday. Amuseum will feature artefacts, film, music and performance to tell the story of the resort and would be a “blend of museum and visitor attraction”, the council said.
  • Connecting Cumbria’s Hidden Coast – £1.06m to improve visitor infrastructure, facilities and activities along Cumbria’s ‘hidden’ coast to create new visitor demand and enhance the coastal destination.
  • SeaGrown – £472,000 will establish England’s first commercial seaweed hatchery, cultivation site and outreach centre in Scarborough, driving economic growth by creating sustainable jobs in sectors currently offering few opportunities in the area.
  • Salcombe Jubilee Pier Revival – £50,000 for work to prevent further structural deterioration of the pier and for work to promote its historical value.

Coastal Communities Fund

Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, said: “All of the ambitious projects receiving funding today were designed and developed by local people who know what will make the biggest difference to their areas.

“The sheer range of ideas demonstrate the potential of our coastal communities and will all create good jobs, boost growth and improve people’s lives now and in the future.”

Coastal Communities Minister, Jake Berry MP, added: “This is an investment in the future of our coastal communities which builds on their rich heritage and huge potential.

“The world-class attractions and innovative businesses supported by the Coastal Communities Fund and the Coastal Revival Fund will increase tourism, encourage investment and ensure people thrive up and down the Great British Coast.”

In November last year Eden International and architects Grimshaw have revealed a first look at the designs for the Eden Project North in Morecambe, Lancashire.

Image: Amuseum – Buttress

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Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

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