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Nov 2021
Last Updated: 01/11/2021
Government rejects £6m levelling up bid for Ripon and Masham
Harrogate and Craven councils say they're 'very disappointed' after the UK government rejects a joint bid for funding to regenerate Ripon, Masham and Craven.
A £6 million bid for government funding for regeneration projects in Ripon, Masham and Skipton has been rejected.
Harrogate Borough Council and Craven District Council made the joint submission for “high-quality place-making, improved cultural and community assets, and improved sustainable connectivity” across the three areas.
However, the authorities were dealt a setback when the government announced during its budget last week that the bid had been unsuccessful.
A joint statement from the councils said:
“We’re very disappointed to hear that the joint bid between Craven District Council and Harrogate Borough Council in the government’s Levelling Up Fund has been unsuccessful.
“The Levelling Up Fund is a competitive process and sadly only a small proportion of priority three areas – which we were identified as – received funding in round one.
“There also appears to be no areas in North Yorkshire that have received funding.”
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More than 100 bids around the UK have been awarded a combined total of £1.7 billion from the fund, with another £3.1 billion to be awarded after the next application window opens in 2022.
£187 million awarded in Yorkshire
In Yorkshire, around £187 million was secured by councils for 10 projects, including a major waterfront extension in Doncaster and a refurbishment of Halifax Swimming Pool.
The cash will be used to improve transport connections across west Leeds and to help convert a derelict site in Wakefield into a new museum and art gallery.
The funding is said to be targeted at areas in the greatest need and for investing in “infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets”.
The joint bid from Harrogate Borough Council and Craven District Council required an approval from Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith.
If approved, match funding from the private sector would have seen the total cost of the regeneration projects climb to £8.8 million.
The joint statement from the councils continued:
“We are grateful to all the organisations who supported the bid, which would have delivered a wide range of regeneration projects across Skipton, Masham and Ripon.
“We still believe that there is a strong case for investment and we will continue to work with partners to try and bring these schemes forward in the future.”
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