As part of its Levelling Up agenda (as outlined in the Levelling Up White Paper (opens in new tab)) the UK Government has announced four investment programmes to date.
These programmes replace the European Funds which were previously available in Wales and administered by the Welsh Government.
The UK Government has also recently introduced a Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (opens in new tab) at the UK Parliament.
More information
The Levelling Up Fund will run until March 2025 and invest £4.8 billion across the UK.
The Fund funds large capital projects and will support:
- town centre and high street regeneration (up to £20 million)
- cultural and heritage assets (up to £20 million)
- local transport projects (up to £50 million)
Only local authorities can apply to the Fund.
Areas can submit bids for each Parliamentary Constituency within their boundaries and one additional bid for a local transport project. Cyngor Gwynedd can therefore submit up to three bids.
The first round of the Levelling Up Fund was held in 2021. No applications from Gwynedd Council were successful.
Cyngor Gwynedd submitted 3 applications to the second round of the Levelling Up Fund in August 2022.
- Bywiogi Bangor – a package of projects including the development of a Health and Wellbeing Centre, environmental improvements to Hirael Bay, improved connectivity within the City and the first phase of the North Wales Medical School. A programme connecting health and wellbeing interventions and regenerating the city centre.
- Ardudwy Green Corridor - a package including building a new road to bypass the village of Llanbedr, creating new access to the airfield, as well as introducing wider improvements to walking and cycling provision, bus stops and an electric car charging service along the A496 corridor in Ardudwy.
- Llewyrch o’r Llechi 2023 - A package of schemes across 3 slate communities of Gwynedd that identify opportunities to maximise the benefits to the local community and economy from World Heritage Site designation back in 2021. A scheme that offers opportunities and developments that contribute to the regeneration of these communities. A specific package focusing on projects in Ogwen, Peris and Ffestiniog.
In January, the UK Government announced the successful projects for the second round of the Levelling Up Fund. Confirmation has been received that Llewyrch o’r Llechi is successful with an investment of £18.8m through the Levelling Up Fund towards a complete package worth around £27m.
More information on the Levelling Up Fund (opens in new tab)
Since 2022, Cyngor Gwynedd, alongside its partners, has worked with communities, businesses and organisations across the county to maximise an investment of £24.4 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Here are some of the benefits from the projects in Gwynedd:
- 1882 of volunteering opportunities supported
- 1033 of local events and activities supported
- 64 of facilities newly built or improved
- 335 of households have had energy efficiency improvements
- 131 of jobs created
- 216 of jobs that were at risk have been safeguarded
- 41 tonnes of equivalent reduction in CO2
Celebrating Success (opens in new tab) :this videoshows some of the 40 projects that received funding during the first period of SPF in 2022-25. You can also read the sucesss stories of the projects and the benefits to the people and communities of Gwynedd in this booklet (opens in new tab)
The UK Government has announced their intention to extend the Fund until 31 March 2026. The extension aims to transition from the existing UKSPF programme to a new funding programme in the future. The North Wales region will receive an additional £42.4 million for 2025-26, of which £7.9 million will be allocated for projects in Gwynedd.
In order to be able to operate quickly and effectively during the transition year, Cyngor Gwynedd has commissioned projects that will develop services and activities that were successful during the previous phase. 14 projects will receive a share of the funding that Gwynedd receives from the Fund (UKSPF) for the year 2025-2026. This means that services, activities and new opportunities will continue to be available to the county's communities and enterprises.
The Community Ownership Fund (COF) existed to help communities across the UK to take ownership of assets at risk of closure.
Voluntary and community groups were able to bid for funding to purchase and/or renovate assets and amenities to be run for the benefit of the local community.
The Fund closed on 31 March 2025.
More information on the Community Ownership Fund (opens in new tab)
In 2021, the UK Government provided £220 million across the UK as an interim measure prior to the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Applications were submitted to the UK Government via Cyngor Gwynedd following an open call and a prioritisation process.
Nine application from Gwynedd were successful in securing £2.61 million. All projects are to be completed by 31 December 2022.
More information on the local projects
and
More information on the Community Renewal Fund (opens in new tab)
Contact us
If you have any general enquiries, please e-mail: UKLevellingUp@gwynedd.llyw.cymru