Council approach to UK Government Levelling Up Fund and Shared Prosperity Fund

Date: 
Friday, 24 June, 2022

At its meeting last night (Thursday 23 June) East Dunbartonshire Council confirmed it would be submitting an application to the UK Government ‘Levelling Up Fund’ for £5 million towards redevelopments in Lennoxtown.

Council Leader Gordan Low explained, “The Levelling Up Fund is designed to invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life, and our Lennoxtown application to the aims to address physical, economic and social disadvantage in Lennoxtown through investment to transform the town centre infrastructure. It includes plans to improve the streetscape and public realm, to re-use vacant land, and to improve facilities, social housing and the environment.”

The programme of regeneration activity detailed in the application will focus on and make best use of the town’s built and natural assets, with the following key project elements:

  • Transformation of Main Street (including public realm, traffic calming, public transport, active travel & art)
  • Refurbishment of Campsie Memorial Hall
  • Enhancement of Community Greenspace (including outdoor gym, access, arts)
  • A Community Sports Hub (multi sports resource, wellbeing & employability).

The total cost of the Lennoxtown Project is £6.9 million. The application will be seeking in the region of £5 million from the Levelling Up Fund, with the required match funding coming from commitments currently in the Council’s 10 Year Capital Programme Place Plan. Further external funding streams will also be examined to reduce the level of Council match funding required.

Councillor Low continued, “The Council has taken on board feedback from a previous unsuccessful application to the fund and we feel this simplified and refreshed application truly reflects the inter-related themes of the Fund, which are around Regeneration, Culture & Heritage and Transport. We are also mindful of our Climate Action Plan in all our regeneration initiatives – including this one – and we hope that it receives the support it deserves, delivering significant benefits to Lennoxtown, when it is considered through the application process.”

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