Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to share learning with relevant stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of the High Street Fund.

We are determined to learn lessons so we can continue to improve our support for regeneration and local places. My department is working with local authorities in receipt of Town Deals and Future High Streets funding to make better use of their knowledge and experience within the local growth space. Our Towns Fund website provides resources, contacts and support for Towns in receipt of Town Deals. The High Streets Task Force will continue to provide support to local leaders in their work to revitalise their high streets and town centres.

To help the development of bids for round two of the Levelling Up Fund, all unsuccessful applicants who passed the gateway criteria and progressed to full assessment, were offered feedback on their unsuccessful bids. My department recently published guidance to support places in developing strong bids, which included a series of webinars to support the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and round two of the Levelling Up Fund.

As announced in the Levelling Up White Paper, the Government will set out a plan for streamlining the funding landscape including a commitment to help local stakeholders navigate funding opportunities. We hope to publish this plan later this year.