THE next stage of Salisbury's bid for the Future High Street's fund has been approved by Wiltshire Council cabinet.

The stages were approved in a cabinet meeting today.

The bid aims to "reinvigorate the high streets with a range of projects to attract visitors and businesses in to the heart of the city and town".

Officers will now create a business cases for the bid, for submission before the end of the month.

Councillor Philip Whitehead, Leader of Wiltshire Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, said: “The Future High Streets Fund bids will help us to unlock the potential of Salisbury city centre and Trowbridge town centre, as we adapt to the changing face of the high street.

“The high street has faced a number of challenges in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic will only add to the challenge as we look to attract more people to visit, stay and shop in Wiltshire.

“Our officers have worked hard to create attractive and comprehensive bids for the Future High Streets fund, and if we are successful, this funding will enable us to invest in Salisbury and Trowbridge and make them more attractive places to live, work, visit and shop.”

In Salisbury, the bid aims to "make the city a more attractive destination for visitors and residents, by redeveloping the train station and its surroundings, and transforming Fisherton Street to help to connect the station to the city’s retail core.

"The plan will create smaller, more affordable apartments in unoccupied units above shops to encourage young people to live in the centre of Salisbury and spend money there, and also redevelop retail units in prime high street locations to create a cluster of small artisan retail and leisure units."

A bid has also been approved for Trowbridge

The Future High Streets Fund was launched by the government in December 2018 to renew and reshape town centres and high streets to help meet the challenges caused by changing consumer patterns.