UK's Johnson to announce high street regeneration plans next week

FILE PHOTO: People sit in an outdoor dining area in Covent Garden, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, June 15, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out next week plans to regenerate Britain's high streets by expanding outdoor dining and investing more in sports facilities as part of his promise to "level up" the country's economy.

Johnson, who won a 2019 election thanks largely to voters in struggling regions of England, has said he wants to tackle regional inequalities and make sure areas outside of the economic powerhouse London have more opportunities.