Labour-led High Peak Borough Council missed the deadline to submit a bid for the Government’s £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund, despite the area being identified as one of the top priority areas for the Fund.

Local MP Robert Largan raised this matter with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Rt Hon Stephen Barclay MP, to seek assurances that High Peak would be able to submit a bid for funding from a future round.

The High Peak MP put his concern:

“On 3 March, when the Chancellor announced the £4.8 billion levelling-up fund, High Peak was designated one of the top priority areas, and the Government committed to giving more than £100,000 to the council to help it deliver a world-class bid. However, despite my urging, and having had nearly four months, I regret to inform the House that my Labour council has failed to submit a levelling-up fund bid in time. Can my right hon. Friend assure the House and my constituents that there will be a second round for further bids and that High Peak will still be considered a top priority area in any future rounds?”

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury reassured Robert and his constituents:

“I understand my hon. Friend’s frustration. He will know from the announcement at the Budget that the prospectus set out the process, the types of projects, and indeed how bids will be assessed. To reassure him, there will be further opportunities for local authorities to submit bids to the fund. One of the things that we are encouraging those local authorities to do is to work with elected Members of Parliament in the shaping of those bids, and I hope that they will now take the opportunity to do so.”

The Government has committed to give High Peak Borough Council over £100,000 to help develop the strongest possible bid.

Robert Largan MP commented:

“The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund is a huge opportunity to deliver real change for the High Peak. 

“I will keep working with ministers and the Council to support a successful bid. 

“Please contact me by email if you have an idea for a project to make the High Peak even better!”