Up to £96m awarded to High Streets in Yorkshire and the Humber

Sheffield was the biggest winner receiving confirmation of £15.8m from the Future High Streets Fund, followed by provisional offers of £15.6m to Barnsley and £12.7m to Rotherham.

Provisional offers are also being made to Halifax for £11.8m, Scunthorpe (£10.7m), Elland (£6.3m) and Northallerton (£6.1m).

Even before the coronavirus crisis hit, footfall in high streets were decreasing. Retail has been among the sectors most affected by the pandemic, with 170,914 jobs lost up until December 1, and nearly 16,000 stores closed, according to the Centre for Retail Research.

Last month Sheffield’s Labour MPs wrote to the Government in support of the bid which they said could “revitalise” areas such as Fargate and High Street, which have borne the brunt of not only the effects of the pandemic but the broader long term decline in high street retail.

Sheffield Council leader Bob Johnson said: “We are obviously pleased that the Government has recognised the quality of our bid – it was a bid that came together with the university, property owners and retailers.

“It means continued investment and regeneration for the benefit of residents and visitors.”

The bid involves making the most of unused floorspace along the two streets, turning upper floors into apartments and workspaces, and creating new outdoor spaces for events and activities.

The investment will also support upgrades to the city’s digital infrastructure, a new lighting scheme and improved cycle routes.

Minister for High Streets Kelly Tolhurst said: “Yorkshire and the Humber has a rich industrial and commercial heritage which the Future High Streets Fund is set to help them to protect and celebrate.

“With a confirmed investment of over £15m and further provisional offers of up to £80m, bold proposals to reinvigorate the region’s high streets can be bought to life, making them once again the beating heat of their communities.

“I’m delighted to see that Sheffield is aiming to bolster its reputation as an ‘Outdoor City’ and look forward to seeing their plans unfold in the new year.”

Hull, which made a £22m bid to the fund, is among those left off the list.

Council leader Stephen Brady said: “We are very disappointed that the city has not been successful in this bid as we felt we had put forward a bid as strong as any in the country.

“This funding would have accelerated the regeneration of Whitefriargate in Hull city centre.

“However, the redevelopment of this critical part of the city centre remains a key priority. Regeneration work is already under way to revitalise Whitefriargate with the Humber High Street Challenge Fund and the High Street Heritage Action Zone grant schemes, which will see the restoration of several important buildings."