The 30 UK towns whose 'forgotten high streets' are getting huge £600m transformation

Britain's forgotten high streets can look forward to a new lease of life, thanks to a £600 million cash boost.

Rishi Sunak named 30 towns chosen to benefit from his Levelling Up windfall.

Reviving these neglected communities is key to the Prime Minister’s chances of winning next month’s general election.

He sees this investment as vital in transforming towns plagued by yobs and a lack of opportunity.

By dealing with eyesore empty shops and improving transport into high streets, he wants to kickstart growth and bring prosperity back to these former industrial centres.

They include Tamworth in the West Midlands, Preston in the North West, Camborne in the South West and the East Midlands town of Gainsborough.

Each will benefit from £20 million as part of the Tories long-term plan for towns.

Some £1.1 billion has already been spent boosting the prospects of more than 100 towns across the UK.

Local people in each town will decide how the money will be used for long-term regeneration of their area.

Mr Sunak said: “We the Conservatives have a plan for towns because we know they are the beating heart of our country. This bold action will transform 30 more towns – reviving their high streets, growing their local economies and making people feel proud of the place they call home.

“Labour’s record in government shows they don’t care about towns – neglecting their needs, allowing them to decline and focusing instead on cities. Sir Keir Starmer has no plan to unlock opportunities in towns and would take us back to square one.

“Building on our strong track record of levelling up in Teesside and the Midlands, we will go further across the country to build a secure future for our children and grandchildren.”

Other towns included on the new list include Skelmersdale, Corby, Grantham, Bognor Regis and Halifax.

Michael Gove, Levelling Up Secretary, said: “This bold action will be transformational for towns around the country. It will allow local people to take back control - creating better jobs, improving transport and generating more investment.

“The Conservatives have a clear plan to spread opportunity so that talent and hard work, not geography, determine people’s life chances.

"Sir Keir Starmer has no plan and no idea how to help people help themselves, just patronising platitudes that would take us back to square one."

The Conservatives have invested more than £15 billion from levelling-up funds to overlooked areas across the UK since 2019.