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More than 100 projects across the UK have been awarded 拢2.1bn in funding as part of the second round of the government鈥檚 levelling up fund.

The Grimshaw-designed Eden Project North, which has received 拢50m, and Hawkins/Brown鈥檚 Blackpool 鈥榤ultiversity鈥� campus, given 拢40m, are among 111 sites to have been handed cash from the government鈥檚 flagship scheme.

A new rail link connecting towns in Cornwall, a major regeneration scheme in Gateshead and a rail upgrade in South Wales are also among the successful bids.

The government said the money has been targeted at historically overlooked areas, with a total of 拢672m allocated for improving transport, 拢821m for community regeneration and 拢594m to restore local heritage sites.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak said the 鈥渢ransformational鈥� funding for local areas would grow the economy, create good jobs and 鈥渟pread opportunity everywhere鈥�.

鈥淏y reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people鈥檚 lives and the places they call home,鈥� he said.

But the Labour party has criticised ministers for allocating more to the South East of England than deprived parts of the North East and said the money does not make up for past cuts made by Conservative governments.

Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy told the BBC: 鈥淚t takes an extraordinary arrogance to expect us to be grateful for a partial refund on the money they have stripped out of our communities.鈥�

Also included in this round of the scheme is 拢20m to regenerate Accrington town centre, 拢20m for the construction of Willenhall Garden City in Walsall, 拢18m to improve Cleethorpes鈥� seafront, 拢17m to refurbish Leek town centre and 拢5.1m for new female changing rooms in Northern Island.

In Porthcawl, Wales, 拢18m has been allocated to refurbish the town鈥檚 Grand Pavilion, and 拢20m will go towards the restoration of the grade II-listed Haigh Hall in Wigan.

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove said the funding will 鈥渞evitalise communities that have historically been overlooked but are bursting with potential鈥�.

鈥淲e are delivering on the people鈥檚 priorities, levelling up across the UK to ensure that no matter where you are from, you can go as far as your talents will take you,鈥� he said.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt added: 鈥淭his is a major down payment on local jobs, growth and regeneration, all part of our mission to level up opportunity across the country.鈥�

This round鈥檚 successful bids follows 拢1.7bn allocated to 105 projects in the first round of the scheme in 2021. The government said it had increased funding for the second round by 拢400m after receiving a high number of 鈥渢ransformative bids鈥�.