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<p>This Government is fully committed to supporting the businesses and communities
that make our town centres successful as the nation responds to the impacts of the
Covid-19 outbreak. Our package of support for businesses through this period totals
over £352 billion including business grants, the coronavirus loan schemes and Job
Retention Scheme, as well as deferral of income tax payments. This builds on major
investment and action from Government to level up opportunity and prosperity across
all areas of the country, including through the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund, the
£220 million UK-wide Community Renewal Fund and the £3.6 billion Towns Fund</p><p><br>
Our ambition is to ensure that town centres continue to flourish now and in the future.
Therefore, on 15 July, Government published the Build Back Better High Streets Strategy.
The Strategy sets out Government's long-term plan to support the evolution and regeneration
of all high streets across every part of the UK into thriving places to work, visit
and live. The plan sets out how we intend to support places to achieve this vision,
focussing on five key priorities: breathing new life into empty buildings; supporting
high street businesses; improving the public realm; creating safe and clean spaces;
and celebrating pride in local communities</p><p><br> We know the pandemic has significantly
impacted the hospitality and retail sectors. We have therefore launched the first-ever
hospitality strategy to support the reopening, recovery and resilience of England's
pubs, restaurants, cafes and nightclubs. It is a forward-looking strategy for a sector
that contributes significantly to the economy and plays a leading role in high streets
and city centres across the country. The retail sector remains a key part of the high
street. Physical retail will remain an important route to consumers, we continue to
work with the sector on its long-term strategic needs to ensure businesses are profitable,
resilient, innovative, and support local economies in socially and environmentally
responsible ways.</p>
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