UK Government levelling up and community investment programmes

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. Gwynedd Council 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  

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will provide £2.6 billion of funding across the UK by March 2025. 

Capital and revenue funding will be available across three investment priorities: 

• Community and Place
• Supporting Local Business; and
• People and Skills 

Each local area will be given an allocation based on a funding formula. Gwynedd will be allocated £24.4 million for the period up to March 2025, of which £4.2 million must be invested in raising adult numeracy levels. 

In Wales, local areas must also collaborate with other areas in their region.  Gwynedd is part of the North Wales region alongside Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham Counties. 

More information on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund  

The Community Ownership Fund will run until March 2025 and invest £150 million across the UK.

Voluntary and community groups can bid for match funding to purchase and/or renovate assets and amenities to be run for the benefit of the local community. 

There will be at least 8 bidding rounds in total.  The first round was held in 2021, the second round in 2022, and third round during the spring of 2023.

The fourth bidding round is now open to applications and will close on 11 October 2023 at 11:59am.

More information on the Community Ownership Fund

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 Gwynedd Council 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