£200m levelling Up funding announced in Lancashire
Eden Project North can finally go ahead
The government has announced billions of pounds in extra funding in it's latest round of 'Levelling Up' funding, with around £200m being spent in and around Lancashire.
Breakdown of latest round of spending:
- A new carbon neutral university campus in Blackpool, with a £40 million investment, placing the Talbot Gateway at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence and robotics learning
- £50 million to transform Morecambe’s seafront into an Eden by the Bay, inspiring a sense of wonder in the natural world and drawing thousands of new visitors to the bustling seaside resort every year.
- £20 million invested in Blackburn’s infrastructure to tackle congestion and give local people more, better options to walk and cycle around the city.
- Accrington’s Town Square will get a new lease of life with £20 million funding to bring several buildings back into use, including the historic Market Hall which will be transformed into a modern food hall.
- Almost £50m for three projects to greener, safer travel for local people in East Lancashire.
- £20 million will regenerate Preston’s parks, providing better green spaces for local people to come together to exercise and socialise.
- A £20 million boost for Earlestown’s (St Helens) historic market square to reimagine the derelict Town Hall as a new hub and workspace for the whole community.
- £20 million to restore Haigh Hall which has stood at the heart of Wigan’s history for 900 years.
In total the Government is pledging £2.1bn across the country in more deprived and less developed communities.
Rishi Sunak reiterates his commitment to levelling up
The Department for Levelling Up promised that the latest round of levelling up funding would deliver much-needed economic growth and new jobs to communities across the country, as the Prime Minister promised to “build a future of optimism”.
Mr 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.”
The levelling up vision was one pioneered by former prime minister Boris Johnson, who promised to “level up” towns and communities across the UK.
Blackpool North and Cleveleys MP Paul Maynard is welcoming the investment. He said:
"It's fantastic news that we have from the Government today, that we're getting an extra £40million her in Blackpool for the multiversity, the joint bid by Blackpool and Wyre application for the levelling up fund.
"There's going to be a new world class University experience in the heart of Blackpool, by the station. A brand new learning environment it's an oppertunity for upkilling and reskilling and beneffiting all sorts of people across Blsckpool.
"Blackpool has benefitted more from levelling up than any other town in the country and the only town with a dedicated sub-committee looking into our bespoke needs.