Nearly £180 million awarded to levelling-up projects in the South West
Billions of pounds have been awarded to transformation projects across the UK - with 9 projects benefiting across our region
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
The South West is set to benefit from 'landmark' levelling up funding, which the Government says will 'breathe new life into more than 100 communities' across the UK.
Up to £2.1 billion has today been awarded to 111 transformational projects - including 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 that will create jobs and grow the economy.
Out of that cash, £672 million is being invested to develop better transport links, £821 million to kick-start community regeneration, and £594 million to restore local heritage sites.
It's hoped the flagship cash will help with providing more investment in communities that will create new jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live, and spread opportunity more equally.
The move is part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's priority to grow the economy by providing 'the foundations for building a better future in communities across the UK'.
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 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.”
South West projects awarded the cash
Transforming Filwood Broadway - £14,536,470
This project in Bristol is set to use the cash for new high quality housing, community and business space at Filwood Broadway.
The money will also be used to be invested into the the community centre and outdoor recreation areas in the area.
Back in 2012, Bristol City Council published the 'Filwood Broadway Framework', looking at how several projects in the area could be developed.
In that framework, among other projects, they set out to:
- Reconfigure the community centre
- Close part of Barnstable Road to enhance green spaces
- Build a new supermarket
- Develop off street parking areas
- Build new homes on the site of the former swimming pool
- Develop affordable housing above the shops
Mid Cornwall Metro - £49,995,000
The most costly project to be awarded funding here in the South West, the Mid Cornwall Metro is set to be a new direct rail link connecting Falmouth and Newquay.
It's a project that involves Cornwall Council, Great Western Railway and Network Rail, with the local authority submitting their bid back in August 2022.
The service would link together Newquay, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth - as well as developing better walking and cycling access to stations.
The project was dubbed by St Austell and Newquay MP Steve Double as 'ambitious' - and back in June said: “This new direct route will unlock faster, more direct routes for Newquay residents, along with the communities along the way, to get to not only Truro and Falmouth, but also the mainline and beyond, while also bringing more visitors and trade into Newquay’s businesses.”
“I look forward to seeing this project continue through the next stage and will continue to work with all involved to help make it a reality.”
Destination Exmouth - £15,765,899
This money has been granted for projects that will help to extend Dinan Way and improve the Exmouth Gateway transport hub, along with delivering better cycling routes and footpaths, to help reduce congestion and improve journey times.
The bid was submitted to 'enhance' Exmouth as a destination.
In their bid, Devon County Council noted:
- Traffic from Dinan Way has to currently use 'unsuitable' roads to access the A376 main road to Exeter and the M5
- Dinan Way extension proposals secured planning permission in 2017, with plans set to enable 'significantly' faster journey times
- Land will be enhanced in the town centre which could include 'new mobility opportunities' at the train station or on the Exe Estuary multi-use trail
Weymouth Waterside Regeneration - £19,468,083
This cash is set to enable works at Weymouth harbour side, as well as to pave the way for nearly 400 new homes and a new leisure-led waterfront complex.
The plans come because the local authority identified a number of 'strategic' disused and under-used sites in Weymouth and Portland.
Dorset Council submitted the plans with the aims of:
- Enabling mixed-use redevelopment of key sites in Weymouth and Portland
- To provide jobs, housing, skills and better public access across the region - especially to the waterfront area
- Constructing the changes with locals and businesses in mind, being mindful not to create disruption
Most of the works form part of the local authority's Weymouth Harbour and Esplanade Flood and Coastal Risk Management Scheme Strategic Outline Case.
BCP Coastal Communities Infrastructure - £18,159,731
The cash has been awarded for a 'transformation' project that is set to revitalise the Bournemouth and Poole seafront with better, modernised facilities along the promenade.
As well as this, they also hope to build a community water sports hub.
Last year, BCP Council published their 'Big Plan' to make the region a place 'where people and businesses want to be'.
The plans include:
- Investing in the 'iconic cityscape', as well as putting money in to help with connectivity and into the Bournemouth International Centre
- Investing in the seafront, linking Bournemouth Pier with the Pavilion
- Delivering on their promise to 'rejuvenate Poole'
- Investing into the coastal city region's 'physical and digital infrastructure'
- Aim to deliver more than 15,000 new homes - with a mix of affordable and high-end apartments
Bid for the Future of Weston-Super-Mare - £19,979,570
The nearly £20 million investment is to transform Weston-super-Mare in a number of ways, with new visitor attractions at heritage sites to encourage tourism and improvements to the town centre with better retail opportunities for local businesses.
North Somerset Council put a bid forward at first back in July 2021, and in those plans, the local authority set out to:
- Transform the Tropicana into an 8000 capacity outdoor events facility, along with flexible spaces for cultural and creative economy uses
- Support the restoration of Birnbeck Pier with the RNLI
- Deliver Phase 2 of the development plans of the Sovereign Centre
- Driving Weston's 5 million visitors and local residents to the High Street through 'wayfinding improvements'
Somerset Training Academy for Health & Social Care - £19,715,940
Staying in Somerset, the £19.7 million plans here are set to repurpose a former hospital in Bridgwater and an empty public building in Minehead to create a new academy training up vital health and social care staff.
Those plans - at Bridgwater's old hospital - include a major renovation of the Grade II listed building.
It's not been used for the best part of a decade, after the Community Hospital was completed back in 2014.
The plans involve the NHS, as well as Somerset County Council and the Somerset Integrated Care Partnership - as well as local councils, care providers and UWE.
They claim it would help to grow the labour market, as well as save a listed building and bring a number of new jobs - as well as the potential for key worker housing.
Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre - £15,587,980
The money promises to help with research into green technology - with the redevelopment of Middle Dock, Appledore into the proposed Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre.
They also hope to work with local universities and private companies to bring investment and directly create nearly 100 high skilled jobs in the plans.
Torridge District Council put forward the plans earlier in 2022 and claim it will 'establish northern Devon as a global leading R&D innovation space for clean maritime futures'.
In their plans, the local authority say the project will 'build on current economic activity and opportunities', as well as:
- Create workshop and office space for the University of Exeter's Centre for Future Clean Mobility
- Provide office space for the University of Plymouth
- Create 15 rentable private offices, 3 rentable innovation workshops, a wet lab and an aquaculture tank
- Help with the development of a new-build quay wall, as well as fund a retractable bridge across the slipway to connect the site to Harland and Wolff
- Help with improved transport access, including charging for electric vehicles
- Generate 'significant' renewable energy
- Build a 'co-developed skills pipeline'
The local authority are also looking to 'explore the potential for any required carbon offsetting to be invested into the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere's Natural Capital Marketplace'.
West Devon Transport Hub - £13,455,000
In these plans, there will be £13.5 million invested to help with the development of a new railway station on the eastern edge of Okehampton, called the 'West Devon Transport Hub'.
This will be complete with high quality cycle facilities and EV charging points on site to better connect communities and promote active travel with local residents.
West Devon Borough Council put the plans forward, with the plans seeing the authority working with Devon County Council, Network Rail and GWR.
They called it a 'once in a lifetime opportunity' to help transform Okehampton into what they call a 'multi-modal travel exchange'.
This would be 'fully accessible' and is also said to include a 'social wellbeing space' for people to use.
Their plans include:
- Building a new station
- Installing a lift and platform
- Developing a strengthened active cycle and walking offering
- Building a bus interchange
- A new car park - complete with EV charging
The authority claim it would see congestion reduced on Station Road in Okehampton and maximise connectivity for the region through convenient multi-modal access to the railway line in close proximity to the A30.
That's said to reduce carbon emissions, as well as improve air quality and support economic growth.
"We're firing the starting gun"
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.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said: “This is a major down payment on local jobs, growth and regeneration, all part of our mission to level up opportunity across the country.
“To unlock more growth right across the country, we are making it easier for locally-elected leaders to make things happen without banging on a Whitehall door by extending devolution deals to all areas of England that want them by 2030.”
The successful bids announced today follows the allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021.
The government confirmed last year that round two funding would match round one but increased this by more than £400 million after receiving a high number of transformative bids – taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £3.8 billion.
Today’s allocations also come on top of significant action already taken by the government to level up communities across the country.
This includes opening seven freeports, signing six devolution deals, connecting 740,000 homes and business with gigabit broadband, and helping 70 community groups take ownership of their cherished pubs, clubs and local landmarks at risk of closure.
All areas were invited to bid for round two by August 2022 to invest in projects that improve the everyday lives of people in their areas. Applications were assessed using a fair, robust and transparent methodology published online.
The Government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK.
There's an interactive map of all of the locations which have been awarded here.