PRESS RELEASE : UK Government levelling up funding in Scotland approaches £3bn [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 23 December 2023.
Local and regional investment is delivering real dividends for communities across Scotland.
The UK Government’s levelling up funding in Scotland has now reached £2.92 billion, an increase of £840 million (40 per cent) since the end of last year, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack revealed today [Saturday 23 December].
That is the equivalent of £535 for every person in Scotland. At the end of 2022 it was £380 per person. The total is set to rise with millions of pounds of further investment in 2024.
The huge funding boost is after another 12 months of working with local partners to identify ways to transform communities, create jobs and boost the economy.
The new figure comes on the heels of yesterday’s announcement of £8 million from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund for 17 projects in Scotland. That brings the total Scottish Community Ownership Fund investment so far to £13.6 million for 43 projects.
The £2.92 billion UK Government support comprises more than £1.5 billion investment in City Region and Growth Deals, and more than £1.4 billion in further levelling up investments ranging from Freeports and Investment Zones to regenerating town centres and saving local community assets.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:
I’m delighted to confirm that our levelling up commitment to communities across Scotland now stands at more than £2.9 billion. It has been a bumper year in both the pace and scale of investment right across Scotland. This money is making a real impact, rejuvenating communities, creating jobs, boosting the economy and attracting further investment.
We are seeing the dividends of listening to the ambitious ideas of local organisations and bringing in the resources to make things happen. We are focused on continuing to work with local partners and the Scottish Government to deliver the change that the country needs to put Scotland and the UK on the right path for the future.
