'Backing true patriots' - Greater Manchester to receive up to £130.5m from £5bn Pride in Place programme

Today the Prime Minister has announced a £786 million investment for communities across the North West, including up for £130.5m for Greater Manchester, with the scheme seeing local residents gain greater control over how money is spent, including decisions on improving high streets, parks, leisure centres, pubs, and other community assets.

Under the plans, 9 neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester will receive up to £20 million over the next ten years, while an additional 10 areas will receive an immediate £1.5 million each to fund upgrades to public spaces, sports facilities, and green areas.

Nationally, 169 communities are set to receive £2 million annually for a decade. Another 95 locations will benefit from a share of £150 million in capital funding for immediate improvements. The government says the funding is designed to give “long-overlooked communities the certainty and control they need to plan for the future.”

The initiative is part of the government’s “Plan for Change,” described as a “decade-long mission to back the people who make their communities thrive.” Communities will also be given new legal powers to intervene in local development and regeneration, including the ability to seize disused shops, block nuisance businesses, and purchase community assets at risk of closure.

According to the government, every project funded under the scheme will be based on the ideas and priorities of local residents, with the North West set to receive the largest share of funding of any UK region.

The announcement builds on existing regeneration efforts already underway in 75 areas and expands the programme to cover a total of 339 neighbourhoods across the UK, and the government says the aim is to create cleaner, safer streets, boost access to local services, and strengthen community identity.

Investing in Britain’s future

“For too long, people have watched their towns and streets decline – powerless to stop boarded-up shops and neglected parks,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “That ends now. We’re investing in Britain’s future, by backing the true patriots that build our communities up in neighbourhoods across every corner of the country.

“Because it’s people who bring pride, hope and life to our communities. This is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it’s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best – the people with real skin in the game.

“We’re choosing renewal over decline, unity over division. This is our Plan for Change in action – giving power and pride back to the people who make Britain great.”

Building pride

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said: “Building pride in place starts with people, not politics. Local people know what they want to see in their neighbourhoods – and they don’t need government to dictate it.

This plan will spark an historic grassroots movement that will restore local people’s power, boost national pride and help people get on in life across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.”

Transforming hometowns

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: "We’re giving local people the power to transform their hometowns. Giving them more control of how money is spent where they live so that together we can invest in Britain’s renewal and build an economy that rewards working people.

“This £5 billion investment doesn't just reverse decades of underinvestment in our public infrastructure – it cuts through the bureaucracy by giving local people the power to deliver the change they want to see."

Pride in Place Programme – up to £20m:

Brinnington

Hattersley

Benchill South & Wythenshawe Central

Harpurhey South & Monsall

Laithwaite & Marsh Green

Clayton Vale

Hurstead & Smallbridge

Gorton South

Platt Bridge & Spring View

Pride in Place Impact Fund - £1.5m

Manchester

Oldham

Tameside

Salford

Rochdale

Bolton

Wigan

Hulme

Radcliffe

Peel Green