More than 100 communities have been awarded a share of £2.1 billion from the second round of the Government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund.
The scheme aims to create jobs and boost economic growth across the UK, as well as increase people’s pride in their local areas.
Successful projects include the Eden Project North visitor attraction in Morecambe, a new AI campus in Blackpool, a new rail link in Cornwall, and a major regeneration scheme in Gateshead.
Of the latest round, £672 million will be used to develop better transport links, £821 million to kick-start community regeneration and £594 million to restore local heritage sites.
This follows the allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from the first round in 2021.
Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chairman of the LGA’s People and Places Board, said the funding will give those councils that were successful the ability to forge ahead with ambitious plans to transform their communities.
But he warned that fulfilling these projects had become more challenging because of rising inflation and costs, particularly in the building industry.
“Levelling up should be locally led by evidence of where crucial investment needs to go to, not based on costly competitive bids between areas,” he added.
“This is not a sustainable approach to economic development or public service delivery… the Government must boost local productivity and save money, through building on the White Paper’s commitment to streamline the long list of individual local growth funds.
“Local government must be trusted with the powers and funding to deliver for their communities.”
