Doncaster selected as Levelling Up Partner

Doncaster has been earmarked for increased funding and Government support to help boost its economic future vitality and will identify areas that could benefit from levelling up, and address barriers that have hindered long term growth.

The city has been named in a Levelling up Partnerships programme across England which involves decision making on regeneration in the place at local and national government level. The city is set to benefit from funding between £8 - £20 million as part of the initiative – details of where and when and how much and on what projects are yet to be determined.

The programme will involve ‘deep dives’ carried out by a partnership of the local council, MPs and business leaders to gather a whole place picture of its unique challenges and opportunities and identify cross-Government interventions to unblock obstacles to regeneration.

It builds on initial trials in Grimsby and Blackpool on regeneration plans to support the town’s fish industry in the former and multi-million pound regeneration plans in the latter.

As a council we have been lobbying for a ‘deep dive’ and collaborative working on Levelling Up since mid-2019, it has taken considerable effort and lobbying from the City of Doncaster Council, Team Doncaster partners and the cities MPs. We hosted a ministerial visit in January 2020 with cross department representation.

Mayor Ros Jones welcomed the announcement as part of the Chancellor’s Spring Budget: “It is good news that Doncaster has been earmarked for levelling up funding and a renewed partnership with government given that we missed out on Levelling Up Round 2 despite submitting two well put together bids. We will need to determine collectively where any funding could be targeted and the benefits it could bring. Doncaster is not short of ambition and this additional funding is welcome and will help us to deliver on those ambitions. However, the opportunity to work with government so they better understand what Doncaster needs and can co-ordinate their efforts to support us is equally important”

“I would like to thank our MP for Doncaster Central Dame Rosie Winterton MP who has successfully lobbied government for this funding.”

Rt Hon. Dame Rosie Winterton DBE, MP for Doncaster Central, said: “Regional economic growth is critical for our local communities, businesses and place to thrive. I want to see this programme support Doncaster’s wealth creation aims and mobilise activity to regenerate areas of our city that need that additional boost. I hope this programme will be properly funded so that the promises made today will turn into reality that can help the people of Doncaster.”