Further Levelling Up Funding assurances sought

Dundee City Council leader Cllr Mark Flynn has written to the UK Government seeking further assurances on Levelling Up Partnership funded investment allocated for the city.

A £20million figure was originally allocated following a visit from previous UK Government administration’s Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young who visited Dundee outlining a range of projects that would receive funding.

Recently, the UK Government’s budget took place and a letter of response from Secretary of State for Scotland Rt Hon Ian Murray MP stated a commitment of up to £20million through the previous Government’s Levelling Up Partnerships programme as well as the full £150m for the Tay Cities Region Deal.

Council Leader Mark Flynn has asked for further clarity on the spend profile, confirmation of the full £20m subject to the necessary business cases and detail on flexibility through partnership working to consider alternative projects where business cases for original projects may not be agreed.

Council Leader Mark Flynn said: “Dundee City has many exciting projects which would clearly benefit in a positive way through this funding approach and I am keen that officers are engaged at the earliest opportunity in an effort to progress this work.”

Projects identified for support from the Levelling Up Fund have included:

• £5m backing for Dundee and Angus College, including £4.5m to build a new campus providing training opportunities in the digital, green skills, energy transition and construction sectors, and £500,000 for a new health and social care training facility;
• £3m towards the creation of new Grade A office development on the Waterfront;
• £2.5m for grassroots projects focused on enhancing opportunities for young people, improving safety, and benefitting the community;
• More than £2m to improve access to housing and boost regeneration in the city centre, including by refurbishing vacant properties, and reviewing the condition of the local private rented sector;
• £2m to develop a specialist centre for protein science in the Life Sciences Innovation District;
• £1.2m to develop a bespoke permanent home for the Dundee Museum of Transport;
• £1.1m to establish a legal tech education centre and workspace;
• £500,000 to complete a 26-mile active travel route around the city, connecting neighbourhoods on the outskirts with each other and the centre.

Cllr Flynn also asked for further detail on the UK-wide 2025/26 allocation of £900m funding being provided through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Cllr Mark Flynn added: “It is important to also stress that it is essential that Local Government and its partners, including the voluntary and third sector as well as cultural agencies, receive full funding for the additional costs associated with the increase in National Insurance as outlined by the Chancellor at the Budget for 2025/26.”

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