A new university campus for Blackpool, major regeneration of Preston’s parks and the creation of a world class tourist attraction Eden Project North in Morecambe are among projects across the North West awarded a share of £2.1 billion from the Government’s landmark Levelling Up Fund.
In Trafford, Partington Sports Village will be redeveloped with £18 million funding to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the local community and Oldham receives a £20 million boost in its ambition to become a top destination for green businesses by creating new spaces for green businesses and a new Learning Centre offering vocational courses to strengthen environmental skills.
total of 15 projects in the North West have been allocated more than £350 million from round two of the government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund. The projects will create jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live and spread opportunity more equally.
The grants include £50 million to build Eden Project North in Morecambe, which will transform the town’s seafront, and £40 million for a new carbon neutral campus in Blackpool, which will place the institution at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence and robotics learning.
There is also £20 million to regenerate Preston’s parks, £20 million to restore the historic Haigh Hall in Wigan, £20 million to revitalise Accrington’s Town Square and more than £15 million to improve transport, sport and leisure facilities in Halewood.
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 a number of projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities in the North West.
“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.”
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.”
