Empire Yard project, Maryport, was part of Allerdale Council’s Future High Streets Fund bid to the Government TWO local leaders have welcomed a multimillion pound funding boost for their areas. Carlisle and Maryport are to be awarded £9,129,874 and £11,527,839 respectively as part of the Government’s Future High Streets Fund. The funding is aimed at supporting areas to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and to help give town centres a new lease of life. It is part of £168.8 million for high streets in the North West.Carlisle asked for a £16.6 million cut of the £1bn pot. The bid focussed on projects including: the repurposing of a number of properties on Castle Street; site preparation work on the former Central Plaza Hotel site ahead of redevelopment; remediation work on the Carlisle Riverside development site; and the redevelopment of the former Hoopers department store which was bought by Edinburgh Woollen Mill earlier this year.