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<p>High streets are changing and this government is committed to helping communities
adapt. The Prime Minister recently announced a £3.6 billion Towns Fund as part of
government’s vision to unite and level up cities, towns, coastal and rural areas,
including small towns and villages, across our country. This Fund includes £1 billion
for the Future High Streets Fund to support transformation on our high streets, and
it will support local places to identify investment opportunities to support adaptation
of the high street in response to changing technology.</p><p>In addition, we are providing
support for local leadership on our high streets and town centres with a High Streets
Task Force. This will provide high streets and town centres with expert advice to
adapt and thrive to changes in the market, providing support to local areas to develop
data-driven strategies and connecting local areas to relevant experts.</p><p>Digitisation
of high streets also forms a part of judging criteria of the Great British High Street
Awards 2019, with one of the four aspects of the judging criteria focusing on digital
transformation. High streets have been asked to showcase how they have used innovative
new technologies or digital connectivity to transform their high street community.</p><p>To
support deployment of 5G and further improve mobile coverage, we launched a joint
consultation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 27 August,
on proposals to reform the planning regime in England. We are seeking views on the
principle of amending or creating new permitted development rights for operators so
that communities can benefit from extended coverage.</p><p>The Digital Skills Partnership
also seeks to improve digital capability across the whole skills spectrum - from the
essential skills that help reduce digital exclusion, to the skills workers need in
an increasingly digital economy, and through to the advanced skills required for specialist
roles. The government is working with Local Enterprise Partnerships and combined authorities
to help establish Local Digital Skills Partnerships across the country to tackle local
digital skills challenges and build thriving and inclusive local economies.</p>
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