The UK government has announced £2.1 billion of funding for more than 100 projects under the second round of its Levelling Up Fund. The projects aim to benefit millions of people across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and create jobs and boost economic growth. Funding of £672 million will be used to develop better transport links, £821 million will be used to kick-start community regeneration, and £594 million will be used to restore local heritage sites.
Successful bids include the Eden Project North in Morecambe, a new AI campus in Blackpool, regeneration in Gateshead, and rail improvements in Cornwall. The Eden Project North will receive £50 million to transform a derelict site on Morecambe’s seafront into a world-class visitor attraction, while Blackpool Council and Wyre Council will receive £40 million to deliver a new Multiversity, a carbon-neutral, education campus in Blackpool’s Talbot Gateway Central Business District.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread opportunity everywhere." He added that by reaching even more parts of the country than before, the government will "build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home."
The Levelling Up Fund is part of the UK government's strategy to provide greater investment in communities that will create new jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live, and spread opportunity more equally. The government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK.
Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said the funding will "drive forward the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by levelling up and provide the foundations for building a better future in communities across the UK." He added that "by working as one United Kingdom, the country is better able to collectively tackle the individual challenges faced by every region and nation across the country."
The Levelling Up Fund, launched by the UK government in 2020, aims to invest in communities and regions that have historically been overlooked in terms of economic growth and development. The fund is a key part of the government's strategy to drive economic growth and spread opportunity more evenly across the country.
Round 2 of the fund, which was announced today, will see 111 areas across the UK benefit from a total of £2.1 billion in funding. The successful bids include a wide range of projects, from the Eden Project North in Morecambe, which will receive £50 million to transform a derelict site into a world-class visitor attraction, to the Cardiff Crossrail, which has been allocated £50 million to improve the journey to and from the city and raise the economic performance of the wider region.
One of the most significant projects to receive funding is the new Multiversity in Blackpool, which will receive £40 million from the fund. The carbon-neutral education campus will be located in the Talbot Gateway Central Business District and will replace the ageing out-of-town facilities of Blackpool and The Fylde College. The new state-of-the-art campus will promote higher-level skills, including automation and artificial intelligence, helping young people secure jobs of the future.
Another major project to receive funding is the new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands, which will receive nearly £27 million. The ferry service is a lifeline for the island and its residents, visitors, and supply chains. Without its replacement, the community would become increasingly isolated.
The Levelling Up Fund is also providing significant funding for transport projects across the country, with £672 million allocated to develop better transport links. This will include the creation of new rail links, the upgrading of existing ones, and the development of new bus services. The fund will also support the construction of new cycle lanes and the creation of more pedestrian-friendly environments.
The fund will also provide £821 million for community regeneration projects, which will aim to kick-start regeneration in a wide range of communities. This will include the redevelopment of town centres, the creation of new housing, and the development of new community facilities.
Finally, £594 million will be allocated to restore local heritage sites, including the preservation of historic buildings, the restoration of parks and gardens, and the protection of natural habitats.
The Levelling Up Fund is a key part of the UK government's strategy to drive economic growth and spread opportunity more evenly across the country. The fund is providing significant investment in communities and regions that have historically been overlooked, and will help to create jobs, boost economic growth, and improve the quality of life for people living in these areas.
The government has confirmed that there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK. This is a step forward in the government's efforts to drive economic growth and spread opportunity more evenly across the country.
Image: Kate Jewell licensed under Creative Commons Licence.
