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.