The Government has promised that more than 100 projects will benefit from £2billion in funding as part of its Levelling Up plans. The Government said the cash would help deliver economic growth and new jobs across the country.
Among the projects set to receive funding is the Eden Project North in Morecambe. It has received £50million to help regenerate the Lancashire town's seafront.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the money would help "build a future of optimism". He said: “Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread 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 £2.1bn issued by the Department for Levelling Up will be divided to target specific goals. A total of £672m will be spent on developing better transport links, £821m on community regeneration and £594m on restoring local heritage sites.
The Cardiff Crossrail plan has been allocated £50m as part of the transport funding. The new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle in the Shetlands will receive nearly £27m.
Gateshead Quays and the Sage, in the North East of England, will receive £20m for regeneration work. Another £5.1m will be given to build new female changing rooms in 20 rugby clubs across Northern Ireland.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the support would see the Government “firing the start gun” on a range of projects. He said: “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.”
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt called it a “major down payment on local jobs, growth and regeneration”, with confirmation too of a further round of the levelling up fund. The announcement of the funding comes alongside the launch of a new interactive map, which can be viewed online and which will allow the public to see which projects in their area have received funding.
