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Disappointment As Levelling Up Fund Snubs Bradford
Despite winning the competitive title of City of Culture 2025, Bradford has failed to win any awards from the latest round of the Government’s ‘Levelling up Fund’ scheme. The Telegraph & Argus reports that four of the West Yorkshire region’s bids for regeneration funds missed out.
The four potential schemes included a £50m redevelopment plan for Odsal stadium, the proposed reopening of Bingley Pool, wellbeing hubs in deprived areas of Bradford, and plans for a technology centre in Keighley. However, none of these proposals were granted any funds from the Westminster levelling up pot.
After the announcement Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: “I am extremely disappointed in today’s Levelling Up announcement. A lot of work has gone into developing these bids and it’s disheartening that the government has failed to recognise our district’s potential this time.”
She added: “However, the Council and our local partners remain committed to doing everything we can to make the district prosperous and vibrant and we will be making the most of all opportunities to deliver for local people.”
“Our unfunded Levelling projects are ready to go and we are now looking at all options to see how they can be progressed without this Government support.”
£41m will be invested in improving bus services across West Yorkshire, with redeveloped bus stations and safer bus stops. Just one other scheme in West Yorkshire was successful in the latest funding round, with Batley being awarded £12m to regenerate the town centre.
The North of England has already received one headline grabbing allocation of funds, with £50m announced to go towards the new Eden Project North project in Morecambe.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “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.”
Lisa Nandy, the shadow levelling up secretary, said: “The Levelling Up Fund is in chaos, beset by delays and allegations of favouritism. It takes an extraordinary arrogance to expect us to be grateful for a partial refund on the money they have stripped out of our communities, which has decimated vital local services like childcare, buses and social care.”
She added: “It is time to end this Hunger Games-style contest where communities are pitted against one another and Whitehall ministers pick winners and losers.”
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin commented: “It’s incredibly disappointing that no other local community [besides Bately] was successful in their bid, despite investing huge amounts of hope, time and energy. Forcing local areas to compete against each other for funds in this way cannot be the way we level up.”
She added: “In West Yorkshire, our ambition is our strength – it shouldn’t be another area’s weakness. And until we ditch piecemeal beauty contests and agree a large-scale, region wide settlement with the Treasury, we’ll not be able to take control of our destiny.”
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