NORTH Finchley and Cricklewood town centres are to be given a £3.7 million facelift, it was announced today.

Cricklewood will get just over £1,6m to improve the town centre and North Finchley will receive £1m to create a new ‘cultural quarter’ by the artsdepot/Tally Ho Corner, which will include new lighting, signs and a space for a public art display.

The £3.7m total includes £2.75m from the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund, with additional cash from Barnet and Brent Councils.

However, a bid by Barnet Council for money to pay for the regeneration of Edgware town centre was rejected.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “Kick-starting local growth in areas such as Barnet is exactly what this fund is designed to do.”

Leader of the council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, said: "It is important we support our local economies during these difficult times and I am extremely pleased the Mayor of London has supported our bids for these two areas.

“The council has committed to putting in some funding along with the London borough of Brent.

"It is important we look at innovative ways to support town centres in the current economic climate.

“Our plans for a new landmark library in the artsdepot will help support North Finchley as a cultural hub for the borough.”

In the first round of funding, Chipping Barnet received over £416,000 for improvements to the town centre.

The Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund was launched last year to try to help improve the character of high streets in outer London.

Boris Johnson said: “2012 is set to be a great year in the capital and I am in no doubt, London will emerge strongly from the economic downturn, but we must keep investing in our many high streets and town centres to address the historic neglect of these areas by others."