After the success of the first round of the Levelling Up Fund, in 2020, the second round of the Levelling Up Fund was announced by the UK Government in the Spring Statement 2022. Through this round of the Levelling Up Fund, the UK government continued to invest directly in communities across all parts of the UK. By increasing the impact of its investment, the UK government intends to encourage productive power and boost pride in place across the country, to support the levelling up agenda.
Levelling up is at the heart of the UK Government’s agenda to build back better after the pandemic and to deliver for citizens in every part of the UK.
The second round of the Fund focused on the same three investment themes as the first round:
- Local transport projects that make a genuine difference to local areas
- Town centre and high street regeneration; and
- Support for maintaining and expanding the UK’s world-leading portfolio of cultural and heritage assets
In particular, the Fund looks to support the following:
Transport investments
This is including (but not limited to):
- public transport
- active travel
- bridge repairs
- bus priority
- local road improvements and major structural maintenance
- accessibility improvements
Regeneration and town centre investment
This will mean building on the Towns Fund framework, for projects like:
- upgrading eyesore buildings and dated infrastructure
- acquiring and regenerating brownfield sites
- investing in secure community infrastructure and crime reduction
- bringing public services and safe, accessible community spaces into town and city centres
Cultural investment
This involves the maintaining or regenerating of existing cultural, creative, heritage and sporting assets, or creating new assets, such as:
- theatres
- museums
- galleries
- production facilities
- libraries
- visitor attractions (and associated green spaces)
- sports and athletics facilities
- heritage buildings and sites
In August 2022, the Council submitted five applications to the Levelling Up Round 2 fund. One application covering each constituency in Fife, plus a Transport investment application.
When developing the project ideas, officers had to be mindful of the funding criteria due to the tight timescale of the UK Levelling Up Fund. Officers have also taken into consideration the linkages with various ongoing plans, including Plan4Fife. More information on the approach is available in the Public Agenda Pack for the Policy and Co-ordination Committee (4th November 2021), on page 109.
The proposed projects were based on agreed priorities with local communities, developed over several years.
The Public Agenda Pack for the Policy and Co-ordination Committee (4th November 2021), on page 80. provides more information on the identified projects for each of the five bids. All bids aimed to increase local economic activity to create jobs and attract visitors. The following information is a high-level outline of the identified projects:
Dunfermline and South West Fife
The unifying theme for the Dunfermline and South Fife bid was town centre regeneration, with three projects:
- Dunfermline High Street streetscape including the gap site
- St Margaret’s House
- the Friary Building, Inverkeithing
The outputs were an improved cultural offer; enhanced townscapes more attractive to visitors, and community-led and designed buildings. Success would be measured through increased numbers of visitors to the towns and stay longer, spending more.
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
The unifying theme for the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath bid was town centre regeneration, with three projects:
- Burntisland Burgh Chambers
- Cowdenbeath Town House
- the Templehall Community Centre, Kirkcaldy
Again, the outputs were enhanced townscapes, more attractive to visitors, as well as community-led and designed buildings. Success would be measured through increased numbers of visitors to the towns who stay longer, spending more.
Glenrothes
The unifying theme for the Glenrothes bid - which was our only successful bid - was town centre regeneration with two projects:
- Glenrothes Riverside Park
- the Levenmouth Connectivity Project
The outputs will be an improved recreation offer, enhanced townscapes more attractive to visitors, and community led and designed leisure assets. Success will be measured through increased numbers of visitors to the towns who stay longer, spending more.
Levenmouth and North East Fife
The unifying theme for the Levenmouth and North East Fife bid was culture-led regeneration, with three community-led projects:
- a new tourism visitor hub at Silverburn (Leven)
- a new tourism visitor hub at Forgan Arts Centre (Newport-on-Tay)
- a new Park and Choose facility (adjacent to Newport-on-Tay) to facilitate the movement of visitors coming into Fife across the Tay
Success would be measured through increased numbers of visitors to the towns who stay longer, spending more.
Transportation
The unifying theme for the Transport bid was Improve Climate Resilience, particularly flooding, to encourage active travel and improve the resilience of freight and bus routes focusing on Mid Fife. The three projects were:
- Flooding/ B981 Den Burn Bridge repairs in Cardenden
- A955 Bawbee and rail Bridges repairs in Leven
- A907 Lyn Burn Bridge/ Culvert replacement/Grange Road Link Road Bridge / Kingseat (Whitefield) bridge expansion in Dunfermline
The outputs were improved resilience, increased active travel and better journey times. Success would be measured through reduced frequency of flood events, trips by active travel modes and journey times.
