The UK government has launched a new £675 million (€747 million) fund aimed at boosting many of its ailing high streets and town centres.

Towns across the country are urged to bid for a share of The Future High Streets fund to help them transform their local high streets into modern and vibrant community hubs. It is hoped that the co-funding project will encourage local authorities to consolidate properties on the high street, improve transport and access into town centres and convert retail units into new homes.

The fund is the brainchild of Sir John Timpson, chairman of British multiple service retailer Timpson. He was appointed as chair of a high street expert panel by the UK government in July 2018 and charged with finding out what consumers and local communities want from their high streets and how their wishes can be delivered.

In a report on the panel’s findings, which was published in December, Timpson said that the UK’s town centres of the future