levelling up in the north west
The North West is taking home the most funds for a region in the second round of grants from the government’s Levelling Up Fund which were announced earlier this month. The North West has secured £335 million, which accounts for 17% of the total fund. The money will be split across 15 projects from across the region. This new funding will revitalize potential areas in the North West and create jobs to drive economic growth. With towns and cities struggling due to the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns, 60% of people surveyed by PWC said they had visited their local high street less frequently than before the pandemic. The Levelling Up Scheme aims to prevent the decline of the high street and will bring much needed regeneration to help areas of the North West.
Hyndburn Borough Council was one of those successful in receiving money. Their bid for the Accrington Acre heritage-led town centre project received £20 million from the Levelling Up fund. The historic Market Hall will be transformed into a modern food hall, which will give Accrington’s own Square a new lease of life. The approved project will also see the upgrading of walking and cycling routes at the National Slate Museum and Neuadd Owgen arts centre.
As our Lockside Walk development (formally known as Clayton Le Moors) is in the vicinity of Hyndburn Borough Council, this is great news for future residents. This approved project for 127 affordable homes will now benefit from being close to cultural sites of interest and in a great position bordering the Leeds-Liverpool canal. The money received by Hyndburn Borough council will drive the placemaking process for the borough by focusing on heritage in the town centre project. This will enable Hyndburn Borough to become a destination in its own right, making Lockside Walk an even more attractive place to live.
Other councils in the same locations as our developments have also received funding from the scheme, with Blackburn receiving £20 million. This will go towards transport infrastructure improvements to resolve congestion issues near the M65. Lancashire County Council and Lancashire City Council also each received £50 million for greener, safer travel for local people and a refurbishment of Morecambe’s seafront to draw in more visitors.
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