THE Government has given its seal of approval to initiatives to revitalise Altrincham, by awarding it a grant of almost £150,000.

The market town is one of seven communities across the country to receive a share of a £1m High Street Renewal Award.

Altrincham has secured a £148,057 grant in recognition of its innovative approach to injecting new life into the high street.

It was praised for the way landlords and retailers are working together to bring empty shops back into use, and for cutting car parking charges to encourage people to visit the high street.

Trafford Council leader, Cllr Matt Colledge, who is also chairman of Altrincham Forward - a public and private sector partnership that is spearheading the regeneration efforts - said: “I am delighted that we have been awarded this funding, which will be most valuable in allowing us to continue the exciting work taking place to revitalise Altrincham. The Altrincham Forward partnership has brought together businesses, landlords, the council and other key organisations to drive change in the town and we are already seeing the benefits of this joined-up working starting to emerge.

"It is heartening that we have received national recognition for our innovative approach, which ultimately will see Altrincham transformed into a thriving modern market town.

“We want to put the money to use to improve the environment in the centre of the town and create better linkages and connectivity between the differing parts of Altrincham.”

The group recognises, though, that while this provides a welcome boost, it will need far greater sums to realise its ambitions for the town.

Announcing the awards on Saturday, local growth minister Mark Prisk said the seven recipients were an example to communities across the country of what can be done to breathe new life into high streets.

Altrincham and the six other towns were judged by a panel of experts including Martin Blackwell from the Association of Town and City Management and Andy Godfrey from Alliance Boots.

The judges also higjhlighted how landlords and retailers in Altrincham have worked together and used windows in empty shops to successfully promote businesses, and worked with community representatives to create a health promotion pop up shop in an empty unit.

In addition, Altrincham Forward set up a successful twilight market during Christmas that is now a permanent fixture.

Trafford Council supported the town centre by lowering parking charges, which has resulted in a 58 per cent increase in car park use.

Mr Prisk added: “It is in everyone’s interests to see our town centres thrive, and I want people across the country to take inspiration from these towns and look at what can be done when communities work together.”

Altrincham’s success comes a year after it received £100,000 from the Government’s High Street Innovation Fund. It is using this to support in the town a borough-wide scheme to provide interest-free loans to businesses that want to set up in Trafford’s town centres.

The other High Street Renewal grants awarded on Saturday went to Rotherham, Herne Hill, London; Northam Road, Southampton; Ipswich, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire; and Gloucester.