The Government will reveal the 12 ‘Portas pilot’ towns that will be used to try out ideas put forward in the Mary Portas’ High Street Review tomorrow.

The towns will be awarded £100,000 to implement the plans which will include elements of the proposals put forward in the self-styled Queen of Shops’ High Street Review.

Mary Portas tweeted yesterday: “Just had call from minister for shops Grant Shapps who tells me the first 12 Portas Pilots will be announced Saturday.”

Applications have flooded in to government via Youtube from towns desperate to turnaround the fortunes of their ailing high streets.

The government is also expected to announce that it is increasing the number of pilots in the next wave of the process from 12 to 15. Those participating will be named before the end of the parliamentary session later in the summer.  

Retail Week revealed last month that Channel 4 will feature the towns on a dedicated series if the channel and its sponsors deem the entries television-worthy.

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