N Yorkshire’s Levelling Up Bids Fail Except in Suank’s Constituency

North Yorkshire’s bids to Round 2 of the Levelling Up fund failed, with one notable exception. Catterick Garrison, in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s constituency, was successful.

Scarborough, which is one of the more deprived areas of the country, put in a £20 million bid, but it failed. North Yorkshire County Council put in a separate bid to support the transport elements of Scarborough’s projects, but that also failed.

Harrogate Borough Council put in a £20 million bid for the redevelopment of the Convention Centre, but it was not successful.

The total amount of money in Round 2 is £2.1 billion, and 111 projects have been successful.

Catterick Garrison

Richmondshire District Council was the only local authority in North Yorkshire to win funding. It may be coincidence that it is in the Prime Minister’s constituency. It is an affluent area so not an obvious choice for levelling up funds.

The £19 million bid was for a Town Centre Regeneration Project that will include new routes for cycling and walking, a new town square, and a new community facility that will host businesses and a kitchen.

Presumably responsibility for the project will pass to North Yorkshire Council when Richmondshire DC is abolished on 31st March 2023.

Other Successful Bids in Yorkshire

These were the successful bids in Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund.

Six projects in Yorkshire were funded.

They include a £20 million Barton-upon-Humber scheme for cycle tracks, cycle parking and improvements to the railway station, and a £41 million investment in bus services in West Yorkshire.