Title

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Levelling up funding is 'poorly targeted' report warns

There are 6.5 million people living in deprived local authorities that will not be helped by the Government's levelling up funding, new analysis has revealed.

There are 6.5 million people living in deprived local authorities that will not be helped by the Government's levelling up funding, new analysis has revealed.

The research, published by Centre for Progressive Policy, said these areas will be excluded from the Levelling up Fund, Towns Fund and Community Renewal Fund.

It also shows the Government's key policies for economic recovery will benefit London over the rest of the UK.

Government support for London is set to be £7bn higher than the North East and North West combined, argues CPP. It also said London is likely to receive the biggest tax break per head.

Ben Franklin, head of research at CPP, said: 'Given this outlook, we can only assume that Government has either failed to grasp the nature, scale and urgency of inclusive recovery or has given up on its own levelling up agenda.

'The Government must urgently change tack to ensure that local communities with the greatest need are sufficiently funded to deliver vital services. Focusing on rebooting locally led industrial policies which can create good, well paid jobs in traditionally left behind places would deliver the government's levelling up agenda more effectively than these ill thought through tax break schemes.'

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Will devolution deliver on health and growth?

By Mariah Kelly | 12 September 2025

The Government must use the English Devolution Bill to set the framework required for Strategic Authorities to fulfil their role in improving the nation’s he...

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Future Forum Midlands: 'Conceptual chance' of meeting housing targets

By Ann McGauran | 12 September 2025

The Government’s new housing targets ‘are a better balance across the country’ with ‘a conceptual possibility’ they can be met, Birmingham City Council’s hou...

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Fair Funding Review 2.0 and the road to reorganisation

By Tracy Bingham | 10 September 2025

Councils will have to grapple with risks, resilience and reform as they balance the fallout from fair funding with the challenge of reorganisation, writes Tr...

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Rethinking long-term community investment

By Nick Kemp | 10 September 2025

As the UK Shared Prosperity Fund ends and the Growth Mission Fund and trailblazer neighbourhoods emerge, Nick Kemp explores how councils can embrace adaptive...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman