Levelling Up Fund bids: delivering projects that will make a positive difference in Sandwell
Sandwell Council’s Cabinet has approved plans to submit four bids to the government’s Levelling Up Fund to help create newhomes, facilities and jobs in the borough. The plans aim to boost local spending and job creation, supporting communities and strengthening residents’ pride in Sandwell. Now approved by Cabinet, the bids will be submitted by noon on 6 July 2022 for government consideration.
The Levelling Up Fund is a competitive fund, with money distributed to places across the UK, based on successful project selection. Funding is targeted towards places that are most in need of the type of investment the fund provides – for economic recovery and growth, improved transport links and regeneration. The Levelling Up Fund supports town centre and high street regeneration, local transport projects and cultural and heritage assets.
The fund will concentrate investment in smaller scale, local projects that require less than £20million of funding. Under Levelling Up Fund bid guidance, Sandwell is allowed to make four bids, one bid per MP constituency. Following consultation with local councillors and MPs, the following bids were agreed:
- Tipton Town Centre, Tipton (West Bromwich West): Plans to provide new homes – including affordable housing – and commercial premises, to replace a number of existing under-used, poor quality premises.
- Haden Hill Leisure Centre, Rowley Regis (Halesowen & Rowley Regis): A proposal to replace the current centre with new swimming and leisure facilities on the site.
- Grove Lane, Smethwick (Warley): Plans to acquire 3.45 hectares of poor quality and under-used industrial land and prepare it for redevelopment, to make way for 151 new homes and a ‘two form’ entry primary school, within the Grove Masterplan area.
- Youth Provision Facility, West Bromwich (West Bromwich East): Proposals to provide a new Youth Hub for young people, providing safe, fun and innovative spaces where they can mix, socialise, share ideas and develop business opportunities with their friends. Once bids have been assessed, and the shortlist drawn up, ministers will then make the funding decisions, which are expected in autumn 2022.
Councillor Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth, said: “In making big decisions at Cabinet on important issues like the Levelling Up Fund, the council is moving quickly to deliver projects that will support high-priority projects that will make a real, visible, positive difference in Sandwell.”
The council's plans to bid for approximately £80 million of Levelling Up Funds follow significant work submitting 16 business cases to the government for the £67.5 million Towns Fund programme in 2021/22.