Council confirms next steps to deliver £20m Pride in Place investment in Digmoor, Skelmersdale
West Lancashire Borough Council is confirming the next steps required to deliver the Government’s Pride in Place Programme in South East Skelmersdale (Digmoor), in a report for consideration at February Council.
The programme is bringing up to £20 million of long‑term investment over ten years, representing the most significant neighbourhood‑level funding ever awarded in West Lancashire.
The Council is now beginning to establish the statutory Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board for Digmoor, appointed jointly with the local MP. The Board will be chaired by an Independent Chair, include the MP and at least one ward councillor, with the majority of members being people who live and work in the local area to reflect and represent the community. This ensures that local residents and community organisations have a central voice in shaping the ten‑year Regeneration Plan.
The board will operate transparently, publishing its membership, meeting papers and decisions. The Council is initially acting as the Accountable Body for the programme with Government expecting areas to move toward community‑led delivery from Year 3.
The Council has also received £150,000 of early capacity funding for 2025/26 to support community engagement, Neighbourhood Board establishment and development of the ten‑year Regeneration Plan. A full‑time Programme Manager and Engagement Officer will be appointed to lead this work. The Board must be in place by July 2026, with the Regeneration Plan submitted to Government by 30 November 2026.
While specific projects will be shaped through local consultation, the programme is designed to support improvements to community and youth facilities, safer streets and public spaces, better access to services, investment in parks and local infrastructure and community‑led initiatives that build skills, cohesion and local leadership. Investment may also take place just outside the Digmoor boundary where it primarily benefits Digmoor residents.
Cllr Yvonne Gagen, Leader at West Lancashire Borough Council, said: “We welcome this once‑in‑a‑generation investment for Digmoor. The long‑term nature of Pride in Place gives us the opportunity to work directly with residents to shape a shared vision for their neighbourhood.
“We remain committed to transparent, inclusive and accountable governance throughout the programme, ensuring local people remain at the heart of decision‑making.”
Ashley Dalton, Member of Parliament for West Lancashire, said: “This investment gives Digmoor the long‑term stability needed to empower local residents and create lasting change.
“My ambition is that this programme delivers a transformation that goes well beyond the ten‑years of funding, leaving a legacy of opportunity, confidence and community leadership for future generations.
“I’m determined that we use this funding to produce sustainable outcomes with residents leading decisions and opportunities continuing well beyond the ten‑year programme.
“By working closely with the community and the Council, we can tackle long‑standing inequalities, strengthen local pride and ensure transparent, accountable governance throughout this process.”
Pride in Place is targeted at areas with high deprivation and limited social infrastructure, with Digmoor selected using national indicators such as the Index of Multiple Deprivation and the Community Needs Index.
Unlike previous national schemes such as the Towns Fund or the Levelling Up Fund which West Lancashire did not benefit from, the Pride in Place programme provides long‑term, predictable funding shaped directly by residents rather than central government. Pride in Place gives local people a vital role in deciding priorities and shaping long‑term change.
