The government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 2 has opened for bidding, allowing councils all over the country to bid for funding for projects that improve communities
Applications for the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 opened for submission today (15th July 2022) and will close at midday on 2 August 2022.
The fund allows local councils- and public and private organisations in Northern Ireland- to invest directly into projects to improve transport connections and town centres and support cultural and historical assets.
The initial round of bidding provided £1.7b of grants awarded to 105 projects across the UK
Previous successful bids from the initial round of bidding include ‘Northolt Travel Scheme’ in Ealing, which won £7.2m in grants for a high-impact active travel scheme that will improve accessibility to services and employment areas, and connect Northolt to the strategic cycle, pedestrian and public transport network.
Bishop Auckland received £20m to improve transport links for local people and reopen the UK’s oldest suspension bridge.
£19.9m was also awarded to West Dunbartonshire for a series of projects including revamping the Artizan Shopping Centre and transforming the area’s oldest building into a library and museum.
Elsewhere, Omagh in Northern Ireland has received £4.1m to regenerate its vacant health centre and transform it into a digital hub, creating 250 jobs and attracting local businesses and entrepreneurs.
The 900-year-year-old Haverfordwest Castle in Pembrokeshire received £17.7m for restoration works, transforming the castle into an all-weather visitor attraction and developing the potential of the river as a feature of the town centre.
The application process has been updated to encourage multiple bids
Greg Clark, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said:
“I am determined to press full steam ahead with levelling up communities across the United Kingdom.”
“The Levelling Up Fund can provide the investment needed to make a project that communities have been dreaming of for years a reality.”
In a change to the application process, MPs in Great Britain will now be able to provide support to two bids that benefit their constituencies, rather than only one. This recognises the fact that many MPs’ constituencies cover multiple council areas.
