£208M investment in the North to transform towns and cities

Cash injection announced to turbocharge regeneration and kick-start new housing schemes.

More homes will be built and regeneration turbocharged in the north of England under a transformational package announced by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove at Convention of the North.

The £208M cash injection will fund a range of projects across towns and cities, whilst Northern leaders will receive new powers to further unlock the potential of the area and deliver the promise in the Levelling Up White Paper to level the playing field by spreading opportunities.

In Blackpool, £90m will be used to build new homes and renovate low-quality properties not currently fit for people to live in as part of a major regeneration scheme led by Homes England and Blackpool Town Council. It will see around hundreds of homes made available overall and disused brownfield land brought back into life in a boost for the town.

The town has already received more than £100M of levelling up funding since 2019 and investment to unlock the major £300M Blackpool Central development scheme.

In Sheffield, the government is supporting the city’s overarching ambition to deliver 20,000 new homes through £67M of Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land funding by Homes England. This funding will be used to secure brownfield land on two city centre sites capable of delivering more than 1,300 new homes and over 4,000 square miles of new commercial or community floorspace.

Liverpool will receive £31M to support a range of regeneration projects. This includes significant investment to develop Grade A office space and new laboratory facilities at Paddington Village in the Knowledge Quarter, as well as support for community asset Greatie Market to provide further opportunities for traders.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, speaking at the Convention of the North, said: “Today is the day the North truly takes back control. Today, at this Convention, we inaugurate the biggest transfer of power and resources to the North in living memory.

“We all know that the divisions in our society – economic, social, educational – are best bridged by empowering local leaders and local communities to determine the futures of the places where they live and the towns and cities that they love. And that is why today – at this Convention of the North – together – we are bringing about a power surge for the North.”

Blackburn with Darwen will see a cash injection of £20M through a Levelling Up Partnership – a tailored plan which sees the government work with local leaders and businesses to target investment and address the unique challenges and opportunities in each place. The area is one of 20 in England most in need of levelling up which will benefit and is modelled on successful partnerships with Grimsby, Blackpool and Blyth.

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Phil Riley, said: “We’ve embraced the opportunity to be a Government Levelling Up Partner and for months we’ve worked together to develop a strong investment package to support our town centre growth priorities.

“To be awarded £20M today is fantastic news and adds to the investment we’ve already secured through Levelling Up initiatives.

“The projects we are focused on will bring real change – this is Levelling Up in action – and we thank Government for their vote of confidence in Blackburn with Darwen.”

The announcement strengthens the government’s commitment to levelling up towns and cities in the North and ensuring local leaders have the powers needed to make the most of future opportunities.

It builds on the commitment to the area demonstrated by the Prime Minister who held regional cabinet in East Yorkshire, and follows on from the announcement that £4.7Bn of reallocated HS2 funding would be invested into the North and Midlands through the Local Transport Fund to improve local connections.

If you would like to read more stories like this, then please click here