North Yorkshire Council have teamed up with local people and organisations for a significant programme of improvement work in Scarborough, ahead of the busy summer season.

The initiative follows confirmation from the Government that the area will receive almost £20 million as part of a national programme of investment in towns.

Previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns, it has been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods with an expanded remit to improve health and wellbeing along with work, productivity and skills.

NYC carried out a consultation process called ‘Let’s Talk Scarborough’ to identify people’s priorities. More than 60 per cent of respondents thought there was a need for a town centre that looked better, felt safer, and was more welcoming, with tidier shopfronts and well-maintained public spaces.

As a result, money was allocated to ensure progress is made in the interim period before proposals under the Plan for Neighbourhoods take shape.

In addition to work routinely carried out in the resort, We have allocated over £200,000 to revitalise parts of the town through a range of improvements, including:

• Investment in state-of-the-art cleaning equipment to tackle problem areas more effectively.
• Support for community-led activities and initiatives.
• Brightening spaces with vibrant flower and shrub planting.
• Provision of a town centre caretaker.
• Commissioning a large-scale mural to celebrate Scarborough’s identity and create a new town centre landmark.
• Improving shopfronts and bringing empty units back into use.
• Installing new litter bins and benches and refreshing existing street furniture.

Work is also underway on developing a new town centre design guide to help ensure building improvements and the wider public realm reflect the town’s unique character. The aim is to support high-quality changes that fit in with the town’s look and feel, especially in areas with historic significance.