Thank you for contacting me about work to level up the East Midlands and Derby North.
I am proud of the Government’s work to unite and level up the whole of the UK, spreading prosperity and opportunity to all corners of our country. As laid out in the Levelling Up White Paper, this will take the shape of 12 missions which range from improving literacy and numeracy standards to reforming the system of local devolution.
The East Midlands stands to benefit substantially from the Government’s ambitious infrastructure programme, worth £600 billion over the next five years. Over the next decade, four new hospitals are set to be built across the East Midlands, including a National Rehabilitation Centre in Loughborough and rebuilds at Leicester Royal Infirmary, Kettering General Hospital, Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital.
The East Midlands will also benefit from the new East Midlands Freeport, which will create at least 60,000 local jobs. The Freeport will be a regional hub for trade, innovation and commerce, and will attract more than £500 million in investment over the next five years.
Building communities where people want to live, work and visit is a cornerstone of the levelling up agenda. The East Midlands is set to benefit from 13 Town Deals, including £62.6 million for Ashfield, £25.2 million for Staveley and £24.8 million for Long Eaton. Further, high streets in places such as Buxton, Hinckley and Kettering will receive millions of pounds in funding thanks to the Future High Streets Fund and the High Streets Heritage Action Zone Programme.
Further, 11 projects across the East Midlands will benefit from investment as part of the first round of the Levelling Up Fund. For example, Lincolnshire will benefit from £20,000,000 for A16 corridor improvements, while Derbyshire will receive nearly £50,000,000 for the South Derby Growth Zone and Infinity Garden Village.
I am assured that the Government's ongoing work to level up the country will improve livelihoods and opportunities across the length and breadth of the UK.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.