Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, has launched a survey on the Levelling Up Fund and North West Durham.
Announced at the Spending Review, the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will provide funds to invest in infrastructure to improve daily life across the UK, with town centres and high streets receiving funding to regenerate, local transport projects receiving financial support, and cultural and heritage assets across the country being given financial aid. The Fund is open to every local area but is intended to support investment in places where the biggest differences can be made, including ex-industrial areas and coastal and deprived towns. You can read more about the Spending Review and the Levelling Up Fund here and here, and you can read more about the work that Richard is doing regarding the fund here.
At the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Labour-run Durham County Council submitted plans for a 163-person, 3500 square foot new foot terrace on their new £50 million headquarters. Labour local Councillor for Willington, Fraser Tinsley, chaired the meeting and all the local Labour councillors backed the plan.
The Council have submitted bids for Chester-le-Street, Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor and Seaham for the Government’s High Street Fund, and Bishop Auckland was proposed for the Towns Fund by the council. Consett and the Three Town area of Crook, Willington and Tow Law were not put forward by the council and Richard wants to ensure that bids are put forward for the Levelling Up Fund for both Consett and the Three Town area.
Please fill out the survey below to give your views.