The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced that more than a hundred projects have been awarded a share of funding that will boost the economy and create jobs around the country, as part of the government’s ambitions to level up the nation.
A share of £2.1 billion will be allocated to 111 projects around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with £821 million being set aside for community regeneration, £672 million going towards the development of better transport links and £594 million helping to restore local heritage sites.
Michael Gove, Levelling Up Secretary, said:
“We are firing the starting gun on more than a hundred transformational projects in every corner of the UK that will revitalise communities that have historically been overlooked but are bursting with potential.
“This new funding will create jobs, drive economic growth and help to restore local pride. We are delivering on the people’s priorities, levelling up across the UK to ensure that no matter where you are from, you can go as far as your talents will take you.”
With the money being awarded, some of the projects include;
- £50 million will be allocated to the Eden Project North as it looks to transform a derelict site in Morecambe into a world-leading visitor attraction. This will, in turn, get the wheels turning on the further regeneration of Morecambe itself, with the creation of jobs, supporting of tourism and the encouragement to invest in the town.
- £50 million will be given too Cardiff Crossrail with the aim of improving the journey to and from Wales’ capital, with this having the knock-on effect of driving the economic performance off the wider region.
- £40 million will be given to Blackpool Council and Wyre Council as they focus on delivering a new Multiversity. This carbon-neural education campus in Blackpool will allow Blackpool and The Fylde College to replace their dated facilities as well as promoting higher levels of skills and seeking to secure jobs for the future of young people.
- Around £27 million has been allocated to Faire Isle in the Shetland Islands. This will go towards a new roll-on, roll-off ferry to provide a lifeline for the island by supporting residents, visitors and supply chains, without the funding for the new ferry it is possible that the island’s community could become more isolated.
- £20 million is to be used for the regeneration of Gateshead Quays and the Sage, including a new arena, exhibition centre, hotels and other hospitality investments. It is expected that this will bring nearly 800,000 visitors per year alongside creating over 1,150 new jobs.
- £50 million worth of grant funding will go to the creation of a new direct train service that will link four of Cornwall’s largest urban areas. The project to see Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth/Penryn will help to level up access to jobs, skills, education and amenities in one off the most economically disadvantaged areas of the UK.
- £5.1 million will be allocated to Northern Ireland as 20 rugby clubs look to build new female changing rooms.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added:
“Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good opportunity everywhere.
“That’s why we are backing more than 100 projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities across the United Kingdom.
“By reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home.”
The government also confirmed that there will be another round of levelling up funding, with more opportunities to continue the work to level up the less advantaged parts of the UK.
