Communities across UK given £2.6bn levelling up funding

£2.6bn of levelling up funding has been allocated today to communities across the UK, giving locally elected leaders control of future regeneration plans.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) aims to spread opportunity and reverse the country’s geographical disparities.

It will see places that need it most draw up plans this year to deliver on their local priorities, based on a conditional allocation of funding over the next three years.

This could include regenerating rundown high streets, fighting anti-social behaviour and crime, or helping more people into decent jobs – helping to revive communities, tackle economic decline and reverse geographical disparities in the UK.

The funding delivers on the UK government’s commitment to match the previous EU funding from the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund.

However, instead of regional agencies, funding decisions will be made by elected leaders in local government, with input from local members of parliament and local businesses and voluntary groups.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Rt Hon Michael Gove MP said: ‘We have taken back control of our money from the EU and we are empowering those who know their communities best to deliver on their priorities.

‘The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will help to unleash the creativity and talent of communities that have for too long been overlooked and undervalued.

‘By targeting this funding at areas of the country that need it the most, we will help spread opportunity and level up in every part of the United Kingdom.’

The allocation formula for UK Shared Prosperity Fund takes into account both the local population data, and a broadly based measure of need, including factors like unemployment and income levels.

In England each Local Enterprise Partnership area will receive the same in real terms as it used to under EU funding, and within each Local Enterprise Partnership area an index of need will be used to allocated funding to each local authority.

Scotland and Wales will receive the same in real terms as they used to receive under EU funding, and an index of need will be used to allocate funds to authorities and regions within Scotland and Wales.

The fund also includes a new £559 million adult numeracy programme for the whole UK, Multiply, which will support people with no or low-level maths skills get back into work.

The scheme will offer free personal tutoring, digital training, and flexible courses to improve adults’ confidence and numeracy skills.

Photo by Kai Bossom