PORTLAND Quarries Nature Park is among the projects to share in a £15 million cash boost, it was announced today.

A sum of money, as yet undisclosed, will come to the island to improve access in and around the park to create a ‘high-quality visitor attraction’.

The cash is from the Coastal Communities Fund and funding will also benefit West Bay Discovery Centre, where renovations will be made to a Grade II listed former church to provide an information hub, including exhibitions on West Bay’s heritage and the local area’s attractions.

Money will also be used to fund repairs at Swanage Pier. Nearby, Marine Villas will be also refurbished as a visitor and education centre.

This latest investment is part of a wider £40 million fund, supporting over 30 projects up and down the coast.

The government says the funding is helping coastal tourism regain its position as England’s largest holiday sector. With one third of all domestic overnight trips made to the coast, coastal tourism is now worth £8 billion to the economy each year.

Coastal Communities Minister Andrew Percy said: “We’re putting the wind in the sails of over dozen major projects along the South West coastline.

“This funding will help make sure seaside towns in the South West flourish.”

Since 2012, the Government has invested £120 million in projects through the Coastal Communities Fund across the UK. The funding aims to encourage economic growth and jobs in coastal towns and communities.

All of the projects awarded funding in this latest round were submitted or supported by Coastal Community Teams. Set up in 2015, each team receives £10,000 towards the development of a blueprint for economic growth.

There are now 146 teams – made up of volunteers, councils and local businesses – up and down the country. They are tasked with producing economic plans to create jobs along the shore.