UK Shared Prosperity Fund
UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was launched in April 2022 and is the Government’s central mission to level up the whole of the United Kingdom and succeeds the old European Union structural funds.
UKSPF seizes the opportunities of leaving the European Union, by investing in domestic priorities and targeting funding where it is needed most: building pride in place, supporting high quality skills training, supporting pay, employment, and productivity growth, and increasing people's life chances.
The purpose of UKSPF
In September 2022 the Council was required to submit an Investment Plan for UKSPF to Department of Levelling Up Housing & Communities (DLUHC). West Lancashire's Investment Plan was approved in January 2023, and subject to further approval the Council will be allocated £4.2 million of UKSPF to deliver a phased delivery of projects up until March 25.
The Council's UKSPF Investment Plan will deliver against the three priority areas as below, each of these priorities have been set by Government and are aligned to the relevant Levelling Up White Paper mission; to address our local needs and priorities.
Under each priority are a set of pre-defined interventions that will inform what the Council aims to deliver and sets out measurable outcomes to reflect local needs and opportunities.
The approved West Lancashire Borough Council UKSPF Investment Plan can be viewed here (PDF, 714kb)
Communities & Place
- E1: Improvements to Town Centres & High Streets
- E2: Community & Neighbourhood infrastructure projects
- E3: Creation of and Improvements to local green spaces
- E6: Local Arts, Cultural, Heritage & Creative Activities
- E7: Support for active travel enhancements in local area
- E9: Impactful volunteering and/or social action projects
- E10: Local sports facilities, tournaments, teams & leagues
- E11: Capacity building & infrastructure support local groups
- E13: Community measures to reduce the cost of living
- E14: Relevant feasibility studies
UKSPF West Lancashire Community Grants Fund Programme
West Lancashire Borough Council is excited to unveil the launch of the UKSPF West Lancashire Community Grants Fund Programme, a significant initiative aimed at enhancing the quality of life and well-being of the community, closing health equality gaps and supporting the resilience of our vital third sector organisations.
For more information please visit UKSPF West Lancashire Community Grants Fund Programme
Supporting Local Businesses
- E17: Development & promotion of visitor economy
- E19: Development of innovation infrastructure at a local level
- E23: Strengthening local entrepreneurial ecosystems
- E24: Training hubs, business support offers, incubators & accelerators
- E29: Supporting decarbonisation & improving the natural environment
- E30: Business support measures to drive employment growth
People & Skills
- E33: Employment support for economically inactive people
- E34: Courses including basic, life & career skills
- E35: Enrichment & volunteering activities
- E36: Increase levels of digital inclusion, essential digital skills
- E37: Tailored support for the employed to access courses
- E38: Local areas to fund local skills needs
- E39: Green skills courses
Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF)
Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) was launched in September 2022 and is a 'top up to the UKSPF and is available to eligible local authorities across England. It succeeds European Union funding from LEADER and the Growth Programme which were part of the Rural Development Programme for England.
West Lancashire's REPF addendum application was submitted in November 2022 and following approval the Council secured £441,630 of REPF to deliver a phased delivery of projects up until March 2025.
REPF must be used to fund capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure and will help to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.
Applications for this scheme have now closed.
Future announcements about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will be shared on this page.
