Levelling up fund opens bidding again

Councils are now able to bid for a share of £4.8 billion of levelling up funding to spend on projects to improve everyday life for residents. Applications for the second round of bidding are open until 2 August.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities press release said:
"The fund empowers communities by putting money directly into the hands of councils, and in Northern Ireland to a range of public and private organisations, to invest in projects which give people pride in the places where they live."

In the first round, £1.7 billion was awarded to 105 successful projects across the UK. Funding from the first round has been spent on improving town centres, boosting local transport links and supporting cultural and historical assets. For example, £17.7 million was spent on the restoration of Haverfordwest Castle in Pembrokeshire to make it an all-weather visitor attraction and Bishop Auckland received £20 million to reopen the UK’s oldest suspension bridge in a bid to improve transport links for local people.

Greg Clark, 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 contrast to the previous round, MPs in Great Britain will now be able to provide support to two bids that benefit their constituencies, rather than just one.