Local authority leaders have welcomed the Government’s belated approval of local areas’ plans to spend the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The Government yesterday announced that it had approved local plans for how the £2.6bn fund would be spent after the Local Government Association (LGA) last week called for ‘clarity’ on the post-Brexit funding.

The money will be invested in projects boosting communities and place, and people and skills, and will also support local business.

Local areas across England will see £1.58bn, Scotland £212m, Wales £585m and Northern Ireland £127m made available under the fund.

Responding to the announcement, Cllr Kevin Bentley, chairman of the LGA’s People and Places Board, said: ‘This vital funding and approval of investment plans is important recognition of local leadership in driving regeneration and transforming local places, which the LGA has consistently called for.’

Repeated delays by the Government have left councils with little time before the end of the financial year to deliver the first year allocations (£250m).

Cllr Bentley continued: ‘The Government must now work with councils and combined authorities to overcome any additional local challenges caused by the delay and make the introduction of the fund a success.

‘This includes the need for assurances from government that there will be flexibility between years to spend the allocations.

‘We look forward to government working closely with local government to ensure these plans are successfully realised and fulfil our shared longer term, local ambitions for levelling up.’

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