Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether applications to the Levelling Up Fund are required to have planning permission in place and be ready to begin implementation immediately; and if he will make a statement.

The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund (LUF) will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.

Applications to the LUF must meet the pass/fail gateway criterion where bids will be assessed against whether they can deliver some LUF expenditure in 2021-22 and demonstrate how they fit with the criteria set out in the prospectus and technical guidance.