Councils need the “stability and certainty” that comes with extending the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) by a year.
Martin Tett, chairman of the Local Government Association’s People and Places Board, has urged the government to extend the “vital” regeneration funding by a year to avoid a “cliff edge” in support for local projects.
“Boosting inclusive local growth is the key to tackling some of our persistent economic and skills challenges, be it in improving high streets, connectivity and mobile infrastructure, or investment in people and businesses,” he said.
“UKSPF is one of the biggest growth funds which have helped get hundreds of local projects and programmes off the ground, but we are now approaching a cliff edge when this support will abruptly stop in just over six months’ time.”
The UKSPF, which was established as a replacement for EU regional funding, is due to run out in March 2025.
“The government should use the upcoming Budget to provide stability and certainty to councils and local businesses, who want to invest in communities, by providing an extra year of fully flexible, additional funding for UKSPF,” Tett added.
The LGA, in a submission to the Treasury, has recommended that the extension should be part of a wider review of local growth funding, giving councils “the powers, resources and long-term funding commitments to tackle regional inequalities, promote regeneration and boost economic development”.
Nature access funding launched
Local authorities have been invited to apply for grants totalling £15m as part of a new initiative to improve access to nature and green space for urban residents.
At least 100 towns and cities across the UK are expected to benefit from the initiative, called ‘Nature Towns & Cities’, which is starting in ‘beta phase’ to enable councils, communities, partners and funders to “shape it together”, according to those behind the scheme.
The initiative is backed by a new partnership between the National Trust, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Natural England, working with NatureScot, Natural Resources Wales and the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency.
It aims to attract further investment and support for “greener and fairer urban communities, improving people’s health and wellbeing, creating better connected and more climate-resilient neighbourhoods”. The initiative will focus on those currently lacking nature and access to parks and open green space.
Local authorities and their community partners can apply for grants of between £250k to £1m. From early next year there will also be the opportunity to join a peer network to share learning and practical solutions and take advantage of schemes to attract new investment.
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