UK Shared Prosperity Fund

As part of the initial UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Ribble Valley Council were allocated £1,967,754 over the three-year funding period (2022-2025). The following three core Priorities for the fund were defined by Government:

• Communities & Place
• Supporting Business
• People & Skills

The Council chose to focus its allocation on the Communities & Place and Supporting Businesses priorities.

The Council’s Local Investment Plan, which included an indicative idea of how the funds could be allocated across the two Priorities to benefit the Borough, was submitted in summer 2022 and approved by Government in December 2022. 

The initial funding ended on 31st March 2025. The Council utilised all its allocation to deliver the following schemes, with the funding supporting 25 projects:

Castle Street Improvements

The Council utilised £300,000 of UKSPF funding to enable the resurfacing of Castle Street in Clitheroe including the installation of new benches and bins. The works have significantly improved the visual appearance and quality of the high street

Market Place Improvements

Extending the improvements made to Castle Street, the same footpath treatment, including new benches and bins, will be undertaken to Market Place in Clitheroe

Mardale Playing Field Improvements/  Brian Holden Memorial Playing Field

Part of the Council’s UKSPF allocation was utilised to make improvements to the playing fields in Longridge. The improvements include drainage works to the pitches, refurbishment of the changing rooms and resurfacing the car park.

Townley Garden Event Space, Longridge

£10,000 of the Council’s UKSPF allocation was used to appoint a landscape designer to develop new concepts for the green space at Towneley Gardens.

Barrow Village Hall

Ribble Valley Council provided 2 grants equating to nearly £300,000 to Barrow Parish Council to deliver a new village hall with improved car park facilities in the Village.

Whalley Educational Foundation

Two grants were provided to Whalley Education Foundation to deliver improvements to the facilities at the Old Grammar School at Whalley and improvements to the car parking area.

Roefield

The provision of an £80,000 grant enabled the creation of a new state of the art spin room at Roefield Leisure Centre

Pump Track, Longridge

Ribble Valley Council used £62,000 of UKSPF funding, and secured a grant from the Lancashire Environment Fund, to deliver a new Pump Track at Kestor Lane Playing Fields in Longridge. Since its completion the facility has been very popular.

Salthill Play Area

£94,000 of the Council’s UKSPF allocation was used to deliver the refurbishment of Salt Hill children’s playground in Clitheroe. The scheme includes new play equipment, several that are designed specifically for children with access difficulties, as well as new seating, paths and other features.

Brungerley Footpaths

Ribble Valley Council delivered improvements to 540m of public footpaths through Brungerley Park in Clitheroe ensuring safe access for all.

Standalone CCTV cameras- Whalley

Working with the police and local community part of the Council’s UKSPF funding was utilised to deliver a new stand alone CCTV camera in Whalley

New website project

The new Visit Ribble Valley website has launched and will support the local visitor economy and promote tourism in the Borough. The new site contains hugely enhances features including filters that will enable visitors to filter down to the places or products of their interest. The site also has a suite of new videos to introduce Ribble Valley’s towns, villages and visitor experience. The new is much more visual, interactive and customer friendly.

Visit Ribble Valley

Clitheroe Market Improvements

Approximately £250,000 of the Council’s UKSPF allocation was used to deliver improvements to the bull ring area at Clitheroe Market. This included resurfacing the area, improving the appearance of the casual stalls and the installation of new street furniture. The works have significantly improved the visual appearance and quality of the market. 

Tourism

Acknowledging the importance of tourism within the Ribble Valley part of the UKSPF allocation was used to publish the following documents:

• Cycle Routes - Five circular self-guided cycle routes
• Walks with Taste- Six new circular self-guided walks

Business support for net zero transition & decarbonisation

Ribble Valley Council entered into a Service Level Agreement with the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Industry to utilise some of the Councils UKSPF funding, over the three-year funding period, to provide support for Ribble Valley businesses in saving money and reducing their carbon footprint.

Charging Points Longridge

£60,000 of the Council’s UKSPF allocation was used to deliver 6 electric vehicle charging points at Barclay Road car park, Longridge

Feasibility studies

Part of the Council’s UKSPF funding was used to support the following feasibility studies with the intention of identifying further potential capital schemes:

• Clitheroe Market Feasibility Study
• Rail Feasibility Study
• EV Charging Points Feasibility

Additionally, a grant of £7,200 was provided to Primrose Community Nature Trust to undertake a Scoping/ Feasibility Study Primrose Nature Reserve