A POTENTIAL u-turn on Worcester’s £5 million Levelling Up funding has sparked outrage across the city.
The cash, promised by the last government in the spring, now looks to be hanging in the balance after new chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves announced in Labour’s first budget, plans to reallocate funding to “nationally significant” projects in the north instead.
Worcester City Council had drawn up plans to invest the funding in a series of heritage and arts projects across the city.
These included the creation of learning centres in the City Art Gallery and the Tudor House Museum, a new Battle of Worcester Sculpture and work on the mezzanine levels of the Corn Exchange building as part of the Scala project.
The City Council’s Liberal Democrat leader Coun Jessie Jagger slammed the move as a political ploy that treats Worcester’s local needs as irrelevant.
She said: “This isn’t just about funding reallocation—it’s pure politics. First, the Conservatives shovelled money into the south with HS2 to serve London, and now Labour’s diverting promised funding from Worcester to secure votes in the north. “Worcester’s hard-working residents trusted Labour, but they’re seeing their city’s projects dismissed as insignificant.”
Despite being identified as a high-need area on the Levelling Up Fund’s Index of Priority Places, Worcester is now forced to resubmit their proposals.
A statement published on the ministry of housing, communities and local government website reads: “Given the need to make savings, the Government has announced that it is minded to withdraw funding from the Levelling Up Culture Projects and Capital Regeneration Projects announced at Spring Budget 2024, but will consult with these places before making final decisions.”
Leader of the City Council Lynn Denham added: “We recognise that the Government is in a very difficult financial position, but these projects would provide a real economic benefit to Worcester.
“We will be working positively with our partners to make a case for each of the projects.
“Worcester has a good track record of delivering projects, we will be highlighting this during the consultation.
“We are in close dialogue with our member of parliament, Tom Collins, who is talking to Government ministers.”
Worcester MP Tom Collins has been approached for comment.
