Report by:
Ann Davie, Depute Chief Executive
TN Number:
TN-196-23
Friday, 24 November, 2023
Subject:
UK Government – Levelling Up Fund
Responsible Officer:
Heather Holland, Executive Officer – Land Planning & Development
Publication:
This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.
Details:
- The purpose of this Technical Note is to provide Members with an update on UK Government Levelling Up Fund (UK LUF).
- Round 3 of UK LUF was expected to open over the summer 2023. It has been confirmed this week that there will be no Round 3 to which bids for funding can be made. Instead, allocations have been made directly to some projects unsuccessful in the previous round. The East Dunbartonshire project has not been selected.
- The Lennoxtown regeneration project bid was submitted in Round 2 for support to deliver improvements including Lennoxtown Main Street regeneration, green and environmental projects, and a contribution to the Campsie Memorial Hall project. Officers were remitted in June 2023 to re-submit this bid to UK LUF Round 3 along with a separate bid for funding to support the implementation of new civic space in Bishopbriggs town Centre (report ref: PNCA/059/23/DG).
- For Round 3, funding was targeted to places based on Levelling Up Need as defined by the UK Government Levelling Up white Paper, together with a ranking of local authorities based on a metric covering skills, pay, productivity and health. More detailed information on the methodology and decision making process can be accessed via the Government website.
- The 6 projects in Scotland that will now receive support are:
- New commercial buildings, better active travel routes and electric vehicle infrastructure across North and South Ayrshire (£37.4m).
- Joint project across Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire, to renovate historic buildings in Annan and Peebles and improve active travel along the Clydesdale Way (£22.8m).
- Transport connectivity improvements across Dumfries and Galloway, introducing new electric buses and transport hubs, and better routes for walking and cycling (£13.7m).
- Elgin town centre regeneration focused public realm (£18.2m).
- Drumchapel town centre regeneration, improving connectivity into and around the town to improve retail opportunities and boost the local economy (£15m).
- Regeneration of the National Business District in Shawfield South Lanarkshire to prepare the site for future development and the expansion of the Green Regeneration Innovation District at Clyde Gateway (£14.6m).
- More information on the allocations and announcement is available via the Government website.
- Officers continue to examine alternative sources of external funding to support Place based, town centre and regeneration capital projects.