Council expresses disappointment over Levelling Up Fund bids

West Northamptonshire Council has expressed disappointment that bids to receive funding from the second round of the Government’s £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund were unsuccessful.

These included bids of £20 million towards new transformative leisure, health and community facilities in Weston Favell, and a further £13 million towards projects in Delapre Abbey, Moulton College and Maggies at Northampton General Hospital.

In July 2022, the Council submitted a bid for a leisure centre, cinema, library, and a new home for health and social services in Weston Favell, as well as a combined bid towards the restoration of 19th century stables at Delapré Abbey to create a wellbeing hub that increases access, awareness, education and control over decisions about health.

A further bid was made to establish a cancer care centre at Northampton General Hospital, match funded with £3 million from the charity Maggie’s, to provide third sector support to the Integrated Care System and deliver a programme to patients and their families.

The council also submitted a bid to build a new animal welfare unit at Moulton College to allow new courses and greater capacity.

Following the Government announcement that those bids have been unsuccessful, the Council has said it will now consider how this decision affects the proposals and will review future funding streams to support the delivery of this project.

Cllr Daniel Lister Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth, says "Providing vital health and leisure services for our communities is one of our core priorities as a Council. It is therefore disappointing that these projects have not been selected to receive funding from the second round of the Government’s Levelling Up Funds.

The current facilities and services on offer are out of date and do not meet the needs of residents. Therefore, we will consider how these proposals affect the future of these projects and will consider future funding streams to deliver regenerated and new services for our communities."