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Landmark levelling up funding will breathe new life into more than 100 communities, with up to 拢2.1 billion awarded today to transformational projects across the United Kingdom. These include 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.

Major government investment will benefit millions of people across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and spread opportunity to historically overlooked areas - with 拢672 million to develop better transport links, 拢821 million to kick-start鈥痗ommunity regeneration, and 拢594 million to restore local heritage sites.

A total of 111 areas have been awarded funding from the second of the government鈥檚 flagship Levelling Up Fund, providing greater investment in communities that will create new jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people鈥檚 pride in the places where they live, and spread opportunity more equally. Secretaries of State will be visiting winning projects across the UK to see how local leaders will deliver for local people.

This will drive forward the Prime Minister鈥檚 priority to grow the economy by levelling up and provide the foundations for building a better future in communities across the UK. By working as one United Kingdom, the country is better able to collectively tackle the individual challenges faced by every region and nation across the country.

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.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread opportunity everywhere.

That鈥檚 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鈥檚 lives and the places they call home.

Projects awarded Levelling Up Fund money today include:

• Eden Project North will receive 拢50 million to transform a derelict site on Morecambe鈥檚 seafront into a world class visitor attraction.鈥疘t will also kick-start regeneration more widely in Morecambe, creating jobs, supporting tourism and encouraging investment in the seaside town.
• Cardiff Crossrail has been allocated 拢50 million from the fund to improve the journey to鈥痑nd from the city and鈥痳aise the economic performance of the wider region.
• Blackpool Council and Wyre Council will receive 拢40 million to deliver a new Multiversity, a carbon-neutral, education campus in Blackpool鈥檚 Talbot Gateway Central Business District. This historic funding allows Blackpool and The Fylde College to replace their ageing out-of-town centre facilities with world-class state-of-the-art ones in the heart of the town centre. The Multiversity will promote higher-level skills, including automation and artificial intelligence, helping young people secure jobs of the future.
• Nearly 拢27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands. The service is a lifeline for the island, supporting its residents, visitors and supply chains, and without its replacement the community will become further isolated.
• A total of 拢20 million is going towards the regeneration of Gateshead Quays and the Sage, which will include a new arena, exhibition centre, hotels, and other hospitality. The development will attract nearly 800,000 visitors a year and will create more than 1,150 new jobs.
• A 拢50 million grant will help create a new direct train service, linking 4 of Cornwall鈥檚 largest urban areas: Newquay, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth/Penryn. This will level up access to jobs, skills, education, and amenities in one of the most economically disadvantaged areas in the UK.
• There is 拢5.1 million to build new female changing rooms in 20 rugby clubs across Northern Ireland.

The UK government will also today launch an interactive map online so people can see which projects in their area are receiving Levelling Up Fund investment. This will be available at .

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鈥檚 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 拢1.7 billion to 105 projects from Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021. The government confirmed last year that Round 2 funding would match Round 1 but increased this by more than 拢400 million after receiving a high number of transformative bids 鈥� taking the total allocated so far from the fund to 拢3.8 billion.

Today鈥檚 allocations also come on top of significant action already taken by the government to level up communities across the country. This includes opening 7 freeports, signing 6 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.

The Towns Fund has been providing funding of up聽拢25 million, to 101 towns in order to boost local economies outside of big cities and deliver vital infrastructure.

Developing better transport links

More than 拢645 million from the Levelling Fund has been allocated to 26 projects across the United Kingdom to improve transport links.

This includes 拢40 million for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to transform its bus services, especially in areas of deprivation and for communities who do not have access to a car.

The North East Combined Authority will receive nearly 拢20 million to buy more than鈥�50 new electric buses. This will provide more than 3,000 seats for passengers, improve air quality, reduce congestion and support businesses in the region.

Belfast International Airport will receive 拢2.3 million to purchase electric buses, which will have significant benefits for travellers and local people with better air quality and reduced noise.

Nearly 拢27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for the Shetland Fair Isle in Scotland, providing a lifeline for the community, visitors and vital supply chains.

Revitalising towns and cities

Over 拢760 million is being provided to鈥痳egenerate towns and cities and unlock thousands of new homes.

This includes 拢20 million to regenerate Accrington town centre, which will see the renovation of the Grade II listed鈥疉ccrington Market Hall into a bustling food hall and trading space and the refurbish of鈥痶he vacant and dilapidated Burtons Chambers and Market Chambers into band-new office spaces.

There is 拢18 million for a transformation of Cleethorpes seafront, including the historic market square and regenerating Pier Gardens.

The construction of Willenhall Garden City in Walsall will be accelerated by a 拢20 million grant, which will unlock a鈥�210 million regeneration plan, enabling the delivery of new homes, parks, and a railway station.

More 拢17 million will level up Leek Town Centre through a refurbishment plan that will upgrade the old market halls for new business use, upgrade the public library and museum, and create a鈥痵wimming facility as part of wider town centre regeneration.

Restoring local heritage

拢545 million will restore local landmarks and protect them for generations to come.

This includes nearly 拢18 million to transform the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl, one of the most recognisable buildings in South Wales, which is currently deteriorating after years of piecemeal refurbishments.

There is 拢20 million to restore the Grade II listed Haigh Hall in Wigan, which will鈥痳ejuvenate the area and make the site a popular destination for culture, community, events and hospitality.

All areas were invited to bid for Round 2 by August 2022.

A further 拢136m has been shared between 10 schemes that are investing equally across the main themes of Regeneration and Town Centre, Transport and Culture.

Further information

Funding awards for a small number of bids are provisional subject to further subsidy control checks, assurance that necessary operational costs can be met locally, and for large bids (over 拢20 million) bids - a further business case review. This is standard practice.