More than £100m in Levelling Up funds heading to Lancashire

By Tim Aldred

05 Mar 2024

King Georges Hall

The government has announced a nine-figure funding boost to Lancashire, with Blackpool set to receive £90m and £20m going to Blackburn.

Blackpool's funds are sourced from Homes England’s Brownfield Infrastructure Land Fund programme and will spur vital regeneration projects in some of the resort's most deprived areas. 

The council initially received monies in 2022 to scale up local enforcement teams to tackle rogue landlords and improve housing standards in Blackpool.  The government also supported Homes England to work with the council and partners to prepare a business case for funding of a first phase of physical intervention to improve housing in the central area of Blackpool.

Coun Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: "Our residents and communities desperately need better housing and investment in their neighbourhoods, especially in the inner areas of Blackpool. We will use this funding to continue the process of positive change, improving housing, neighbourhoods and life chances across inner Blackpool.

"We want to create strong neighbourhoods - stable, thriving and sustainable neighbourhoods that have access to things like health services, decent jobs, quality housing, schools and leisure activities.  It is our vision that over time you will see the removal of housing that does not meet modern standards, with new and better housing created in its place, in better neighbourhoods, designed with the interests of Blackpool residents and businesses at their heart. We want people to love where they live."

The headline-grabber for Blackburn's funds will be the £8m renovation of its iconic King George's Hall venue. Further projects include Tony’s Ballroom, The Exchange and Imperial Mill.

Council leader Phil Riley said: "The good news for Blackburn with Darwen just keeps on coming! After a tremendous amount of work in developing a really strong investment package for our borough, the government has today announced £20m of new Levelling Up Funding for us which is just brilliant.

"This comes on the back of the council being named a Government Levelling Up Partner in the Budget last year and tops up the £40m we secured in 2023. Added to that, we have the Darwen Town Deal, the money we secured through the Youth Investment Fund, the UKSPF and more recently the chance to secure a further £20m for Darwen, as part of the Long Term Plan for Towns initiative, with more to come on completion of our Devo Deal with government too."

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Carousel tax fraudster loses £90m property empire Arif Umarji Patel with the seized Ferrari counterfeit underwear container with counterfeit clothes inside

Carousel tax fraudster loses £90m property empire

03 Sep 2025

2

EDF confirm Heysham nuclear plant to generate power until March 2028 EDF Heysham

EDF confirm Heysham nuclear plant to generate power until March 2028

03 Sep 2025

3

Breck starts construction of 51 affordable houses and bungalows in Lancashire Preesall site

Breck starts construction of 51 affordable houses and bungalows in Lancashire

03 Sep 2025

4

Pleasure Beach Resort drops hint about the future of its new ride Blackpool Pleasure Beach ride

Pleasure Beach Resort drops hint about the future of its new ride

03 Sep 2025

5

Have your say on the future of local council services in Lancashire Future of Lancashire council services document

Have your say on the future of local council services in Lancashire

02 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
Linkedin Cover.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
03 Sep 2025 - 03 Sep 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Harewood House , Leeds, LS17 9LG

09:30 - 16:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day
MTD drop in session.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day, Blackburn, BB1 5QB

10:00 - 16:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin