Today in Parliament, the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove MP unveiled the Government’s flagship Levelling Up White Paper.
This document will set out a plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it.
Lucy has warmly welcomed the ambitious document that will see funding for Telford, Shropshire and across the West Midlands.
Lucy Allan MP said:
“I warmly welcome the scope and ambition of the Levelling Up White Paper announced today. Our area is part of the West Midlands, one of the areas set to benefit the most from the plans announced today.
Residents will already know that Telford is to benefit from millions of pounds allocated through the Towns Fund to fund a new Maths and Digital Skills hub at the heart of the Station Quarter in partnership with local stakeholders, creating jobs, driving skills training and creating opportunity.
Furthermore, £400 million has been allocated to the British Business Bank’s Midlands Engine Investment Fund to support access to finance for SMEs across the region, including in entrepreneurial towns like Telford.
It is important to also recognise that Telford is a key part of the West Midlands, and one of my priorities is to create greater links between Telford, Wolverhampton and Birmingham – major cities that will drive levelling up across the region. Many of my constituents work in Wolverhampton or Birmingham and will welcome increased connectivity across the region.
Closer to home, Shropshire will also be a key recipient of Project Gigabit from June 2022, a £5 billion project to upgrade broadband speeds and connect homes, rural GP surgeries, libraries and schools. Gigabit broadband coverage across the West Midlands increased from 9% in November 2019 to 74% in January 2022.
Telford will also benefit from support from the High Streets Task Force providing access to expertise, consulting and help to plan our regeneration within the Borough. This has been announced by Minister Neil O'Brien MP today.”
You can read the Levelling Up White Paper online here.
