Some £755,000 match funding has been secured from Historic England to deliver the 'High Street Heritage Action Zone' programme in Ormskirk.

The borough and county councils will also be contributing significant amounts of funding, which has previously been allocated, to deliver a number of projects within the HAZ programme, to be delivered over the next four years.

Some of the match funding allocated includes improvements to the bus station and further improving the public realm in Moor Street and other parts of the town centre.

Councillor Ian Moran, Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, said: "This is great news and will help us build on the proud heritage Ormskirk has.

"This scheme was for historic town centres and high streets, which is why the Council bid for Ormskirk.

"We are ambitious for the whole of West Lancashire and constantly looking for external funding schemes that might be used to enhance different areas.

"Prior to the pandemic, construction work had begun on the Skelmersdale town centre regeneration scheme and we have been in discussions with the owners of the Concourse Shopping Centre on possible future phases of development."

The initiative from Historic England uses a place's heritage to create economic growth and improve quality of life to help revive local high streets; this programme will unlock Ormskirk's potential and make the area more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors.

It will be delivered through joint-working, grant funding and sharing the skills of experts at Historic England and will include physical improvements and cultural activities to help to regenerate Ormskirk town centre.

Projects included within the programme are the improvements to public realm areas, enhanced connectivity to access the town centre by walking, cycling and public transport and visual improvements to alleyways and public realm, to better highlight the town's heritage.

An associated cultural programme focused on working with communities and local cultural organisations in developing site-specific events will also be designed to encourage local people to engage with the heritage on their high street.