‘We’re at a cliff edge’ –says South Yorkshire mayor as vital fund used to boost infrastructure projects nears end

The county has received nearly £364 million from the Local Growth Fund since 2012, which has been used to create jobs, attract further investment and transform the region.

Some of the projects which have benefited include bringing Boeing and McLaren to South Yorkshire, the DN7, town centre and airport projects, in Doncaster alongside city centre infrastructure in Sheffield.

But the fund expires at the end of March, with Government yet to set out plans for another scheme.

Mayor Jarvis, who raised the issue in Parliament under his second-role as MP for Barnsley Central, said the region was facing a ‘cliff edge’, at precisely the time it needs certainty.

Sheffield City Region bosses said plans are in place to use LGF cash if the scheme is extended.

These include to further connect the Advanced Manufacturing District, in Rotherham and the Olympic Legacy Park, in Sheffield, as well as delivering essential flood defence schemes, in Doncaster.

Other projects include redeveloping Sheffield’s Midland station, building homes in Sheffield and regenerating Goldthorpe, in Barnsley.

Mayor Jarvis said: “South Yorkshire is open for business, and ready to prosper despite the challenges Covid-19 throws at us. We’re investing money from our landmark devolution deal to start our fightback form the pandemic, yet the uncertainty of the future of the LGF hangs over us and threatens to derail our progress.”

Luke Hall, Housing, Communities and Local Government minister, said: “We will look closely with LEPs and mayors to understand the changing need of local economies and we will look at how this funding will be used alongside other resources to support local economic recovery efforts.

“Further funding announcements will be made in due course at the Spending Review.”

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