A bid for a share of the government’s levelling up funding has been submitted to support the ‘regeneration’ of the town centre, Bracknell Forest Council has revealed. 

Council’s nationwide can put forward proposals which, if granted, provide them with a portion of the £4.8bn phase two funding for ‘levelling up’ projects, designed to “improve everyday life” for people across the UK. 

Executive member for economic development and regeneration, Councillor Marc Brunel-Walker, confirmed that a proposal on behalf of the borough “has now been submitted”. 

“The Council has worked on a bid to support the ongoing regeneration of the town centre, supporting leisure and cultural facilities as part of the proposed Deck development,” he added. 

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On his website, Bracknell Forest MP James Sunderland said this is “a great opportunity” for the borough. 

Applications for the delayed second phase of the government’s Levelling Up Fund opened for submission on July 15 and will remain open until midday on August 2. 

Local authorities were supposed to have been able to submit their applications from May 31, before a deadline of noon on July 6, however, the web portal remained inaccessible more than a month after it was scheduled to go live. 

The fund aims to help communities by putting money directly into the hands of councils, to invest in infrastructure projects that benefit the local area. 

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“We will always look for additional funding to improve the experience for residents of Bracknell Forest and to encourage more visitors to the area,” said Cllr Brunel-Walker. 

Previous grants have gone towards improving town centres, boosting local transport links and supporting cultural and historical assets. 

But a report by the House of Commons public accounts committee last month noted delays to the first phase of the funds being allocated.  

It stated that four weeks before the end of the 2021/22 financial year, just £100m of an expected £600m had been paid to local authorities. 

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Greg Clark, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities following the sacking of Michael Gove earlier this month, said he is “determined to press full steam ahead” with the government’s pledge to ‘reduce the imbalances’ between areas and social groups across the UK. 

“The Levelling Up Fund can provide the investment needed to make a project that communities have been dreaming of for years a reality. 

“[…] I’m looking forward to seeing proposals that will make a positive impact on people’s lives,” he added.