Two Kent high streets are set to benefit from more than £1million each of government funding to help them recover from the impact of the pandemic.

Seven historic high streets across the South East will share in the £95m High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme being delivered by Historic England.

In total, it will help 68 town centres across the country boost economic, social and cultural recovery.

However, the promise of the funding is not new - it was originally announced a year ago , before the health crisis, and designated as cash to help historic towns which were in decline.

The money will go into delivering schemes to transform and restore disused and dilapidated buildings into new homes, shops, work places and community spaces, restoring local historic character and improving public realm.

Among those receiving investments will be Ramsgate , which will receive £1,110,965, and Chatham , which pockets £1.6m.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: "High streets sit at the heart of our communities and every part of the country deserves to have one they can be proud of. This fund will help breathe new life into high streets in towns and cities across the country - restoring them to their full glory so that they are beautiful places for people to shop, work and enjoy."

High Streets Minister, and Rochester and Strood MP, Kelly Tolhurst , said: “Our high streets are the beating heart of our communities and, now more than ever, have a crucial role to play in helping our towns and cities to recover from the pandemic.

“This new funding will help to transform and restore historic buildings, creating new homes, shops and community spaces, and reinvigorating local high streets up and down the country.”

The High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative is funded with £40m from the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport’s Heritage High Street Fund and £52m from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Future High Street Fund. A further £3m will be provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support a cultural programme.

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