Welsh projects receive £208 million of Levelling Up funding
A total of 11 projects in Wales have receive grants worth £208 million from the UK Government’s second round of Levelling Up funding.
Projects supported by the fund include Cardiff Crossrail, an engineering campus in Blaenau Gwent, restoration of the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl, and new cycle routes through Conwy Valley
The Cardiff Crossrail project has received £50 million, the joint highest amount awarded to a UK project. There is also £9 million for a new engineering campus for 600 students in Blaenau Gwent and £18.6 million for a new cycle route between Llandudno Junction and Betws y Coed via the Conwy Valley.
Nearly £18 million has been allocated to help renovate the iconic Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl, which requires major work after years of piecemeal refurbishments.
The Department for Levelling Up promised that the latest round of levelling up funding would deliver much-needed economic growth and new jobs to communities across the country, as the Prime Minister promised to “build a future of optimism”.
But Labour accused the Government of presiding over a “Hunger Games-style contest where communities are pitted against one another”.
Transport links
The UK Government said that over 100 projects across the UK would share £2.1 billion in funding, split between £672 million to develop better transport links, £821 million for community regeneration, and £594 million to go towards restoring local heritage sites.
Prime Minister Rishi Mr Sunak said: “Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread opportunity everywhere.
“That’s why we are backing more than 100 projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities across the United Kingdom.
“By reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home.”
The levelling up vision was one pioneered by former prime minister Boris Johnson, who promised to “level up” towns and communities across the UK following the UK’s departure from the EU.
Projects in Wales awarded Levelling Up Fund grants are:
- £50 million for Crossrail Cardiff. This will help deliver a new line between Cardiff Bay and Cardiff Central Station.
- A safe and direct cycle route will be created between Llandudno Junction and Betws y Coed via the Conwy Valley with an £18.6 million grant. The scheme will also include measures to mitigate against flooding.
- £17.8 million will restore the historic estate in the Vale of Neath and build new walkways and cycle paths.
- £17 million for building new walkways and cycle paths to bring people closer together in Holyhead and enable visitors and local people to explore the stunning sites of St Cybi’s Church and the Roman Fort.
- £18 million to transform the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl
- In Blaenau Gwent, a new engineering campus for 600 young people will be built using £9 million funding. It will offer the next generation of engineers an extensive programme of apprenticeships and industry placements in the area.
- £20 million will restore and regenerate three industry heritage sites in the Lower Swansea Valley. This includes the Morfa Copperworks and will create new shops, restaurants and market places, and a major upgrade to Swansea Museum.
- The £7.6 million Pontypool Cultural Hub project in Torfaen will transform derelict buildings into a cultural centre with a new restaurant to boost the night-time economy.
- Building a state of the art leisure centre in Caerphilly with £20 million, including a new gym and swimming pool.
- In Gwynedd, £18.8 million will upgrade walking and cycling routes for the National Slate Museum and the Neuadd Ogwen arts centre.
- Denbighshire will receive £11 million to restore the historic monuments in Ruthin, including St Peter’s Church and the town square.
The UK Government has also confirmed plans for a further round of the Levelling Up Fund.
Hugely significant
Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies said: “This is a hugely significant investment in truly significant projects across Wales. I’m delighted to see so many successful bids from around the country for schemes which will have an impact for generations to come.
“This funding will regenerate town centres and historic buildings, create new cycle and walking paths through some of our most beautiful countryside, improve facilities for visitors, deliver transport solutions for Cardiff and contribute to the health and future job opportunities for people in the areas involved.
“I am very much looking forward to following the progress of these projects as they help us achieve our ambitions of levelling up the UK and growing the Welsh economy.”
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The Conwy Valley cycle route will definitely be an asset to the area. At the moment cyclists take their lives in the hands on both the A470 and the B5106.
Levelling up money for Tory northern counties…
Fly Rishi Air Force saves so much hassle dodging the man/woman in the street. The man/woman in uniform have to salute the office of Prime Minister, what they think of the man is probably unprintable…
It used to be Simon says now we are in the world of Sunak says…
A fraction of the EU money. I don’t buy the into the lies. Tory criminals
£50 million to Cardiff cross rail is the joint highest given to any UK project, laughable, while the next stage of London’s rail network, has been allocated £14 billion, following the £18 billion on the recently completed part. This is crumbs for areas outside London, in an effort to prove “leveling up” is working.
And the £50 million doesn’t come close to providing the £5 billion of railway funding the UK has diverted from Wales by calling England’s HS2 line a Welsh and English project.
Why is there no project to connect Cardiff Airport to the railway mainline which passes close to the airport. With all of the rail and transport projects underway you would think this would be a vital part of the development of the airport ?
Tories don’t like the airport. It’s in that nasty public ownership.
Now, if it was in the private hands of their greasy spiv mates, they’d be chucking money at it.
Is that right! No, you’re kidding me…
A new link road was proposed and scrapped, and was opposed by none other than ART Davies among others, as the new road would have been very close to his farm in the vale.
The Tories are desperate to close Cardiff Airport and to big up Bristol Airport as it satisfies their Western Gateway / Severnside agenda. Never forget that we live in EnglandandWales.
WestAnglia is a term un “ civil “ servants occasionaly use when in camera
“Levelling Up” – a corrupt jargonised use of English. Used to be called routine maintenance and improvement projects. Sadly there are suckers out there who fall for this kind of sauce.
England’s PM Rishy Sunak along with treacherous Tory Anglophile David TC Davies are cynically using funding that should be administrated by our Senedd but instead favour a BritNat bear pit bloodsport where Welsh communities & regions fight against each other for fiscal crumbs an unedifying spectacle. Most of the projects in Wales chosen by the Tories wouldn’t have met the EU criteria for Structual funding now replaced with Levelling-Up. This has been done for Tory political gain that will cause Wales long-term pain. This Conservative charade will not solve or eradicate poverty in Wales but prolong and perpetuate. Those areas… Read more »
Any money is better than no money but it is too little too late. Chronic underfunding and neglect for decades, if not centuries will not be solved by a few million of hard fought for money. Independence is the only way forward.
Couldn’t agree more.
Wow, all that money going to South Wales & so little for the North.
It isn’t a North v South thing, yes money is being spent in The South but have you seen where the railway is being built? Its certainly not in The Valleys or down West.
North of where ……?
Off the subject of levelling up is it me or others who can’t stand sunak’s voice it grates on me horrendously.
Most of these have some merit and in many cases genuine local support groups advocating them – but just how many will really change lives, enhance community opportunity and engage local families ? We need to be honest if somewhat harsh….good ideas and proposals with strategic party front “ men “ ready to include them in their election leaflets……