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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the Department has undertaken an analysis of the increased costs associated with the delivery of the first round of Levelling Up projects due to inflation since successful bids were first awarded.

The department is monitoring the situation closely through formal reporting mechanisms and on the ground relationships. These are giving us an emerging picture of the impact of cost inflation on our programmes.

The Levelling Up Fund has put in place a proportionate project adjustment process. Through this, we can work with places to make sensible adjustments to the scope and phasing of projects to mitigate delivery challenges, including cost inflation, whilst also maintaining value for money.