Cardiff Crossrail, a new engineering campus in Blaenau Gwent, and new cycle routes through Conwy Valley are among some of the local projects across Wales awarded a share of £2.1 billion from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. A total of 11 projects in Wales have been allocated over £208 million from round two of the funding pot.
The investment follows the allocation of levelling up cash to 10 schemes in Wales in 2021. A key theme on the Conservatives' election campaign in 2019, the 'levelling up' plan for the UK was unveiled in February last year and its policies are targeted to be achieved by 2030.
Today, the UK government has announced that 11 schemes in Wales are to received funding in the second round. However, a spokesperson for the Welsh Government said Wales had "less say over less money" and that every decision on Levelling Up funding for local projects had been taken in Whitehall.
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The scheme to replace EU funds, the Shared Prosperity Fund, left Wales £1.1 billion short, they said, and was now directly resulting in redundancies and the closure of previously EU-funded programmes in areas such as skills, R&D and support for the most vulnerable people.
The projects receiving Levelling Up funding are:
- Crossrail Cardiff gets £50 million. Funding will go towards delivering a new line between Cardiff Bay and Cardiff Central Station.
- A new cycle route between Llandudno Junction and Betws y Coed gets £18.6 million. The route goes via the Conwy Valley and will also include measures to mitigate against flooding.
- Restoration of the historic estate in the Vale of Neath gets £17.8 million. Funding will also go towards building new walkways and cycle paths.
- There is £17 million for building new walkways and cycle paths to bring people closer together in Holyhead and enable visitors and local people to explore St Cybi’s Church and the Roman Fort.
- Restoration of Porthcawl's Grand Pavilion gets £18 million.
- A new engineering campus in Blaenau Gwent gets £9 million. The campus will accommodate 600 young people.
- £20 million goes towards the restoration of three industry heritage sites in the Lower Swansea Valley, including the Morfa Copperworks. The scheme will create new shops, restaurants and market places, and a major upgrade to Swansea Museum.
- The Pontypool Cultural hub project in Torfaen gets £7.6 million.
- The building of a leisure centre in Caerphilly with a gym and swimming pool receives £20 million.
- Upgrading walking and cycling routes for the National Slate Museum and the Neuadd Ogwen arts centre in Gwynedd received £18.8 million.
- Denbighshire will receive £11 million to restore the historic monuments in Ruthin, including St Peter’s Church and the town square.
The UK Government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund. Responding to the announcement, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “While today’s delayed announcement confirms a limited number of projects, Wales remains over £1.1bn worse off on promised EU replacement funds. Wales now has less say over less money, and every decision on Levelling Up funding for local projects has been taken in Whitehall.
“The delayed, chaotic process is now costing jobs and other much needed projects are being missed as a result of the lost funds. Today’s news does not come close to meeting the funding promised by UK Ministers in 2019. These delays have also loaded extra pressure onto local authorities as well as driving up costs during a period of soaring inflation. This will have consequences on delivery, value for money and economic impact.
“We will continue to work with local government and partners to maximise the funds that are available. Some of the projects supported would have likely won Welsh Government funding, and we will work to ensure positive outcomes where possible, while making the strong case for the funds promised to the people of Wales.”
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 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 a number of projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities in Wales. 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."
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove 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.”
Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies, said: “This is a hugely significant investment in truly significant projects across Wales. I’m delighted to see so many successful bids from around the country for schemes which will have an impact for generations to come. This funding will regenerate town centres and historic buildings, create new cycle and walking paths through some of our most beautiful countryside, improve facilities for visitors, deliver transport solutions for Cardiff and contribute to the health and future job opportunities for people in the areas involved.
“I am very much looking forward to following the progress of these projects as they help us achieve our ambitions of levelling up the UK and growing the Welsh economy.”
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