Bidding has started under the Government’s £4bn ‘levelling up’ fund for local infrastructure projects, aimed at promoting regional growth and regeneration. The effective use of cost-benefit analyses can boost a local authority’s chances of making a successful bid and securing much-needed funding for infrastructure. So, how can they get this right?

‘Levelling Up’ has been a key Government mantra since the election, with a dedicated fund allowing local authorities to make funding bids for critical infrastructure, such as improved public transport links and retail facilities. One of the initiative’s key objectives is that any projects receiving funds must have a ‘real and visible impact’, support the area’s economic recovery from the pandemic and be deliverable before the next General Election, in 2024.