A LEVELLING Up fund bid for Prescot has been unsuccessful, it has been confirmed.

The Prescot bid, reportedly for £8m, aimed to build on the opening of Shakespeare North Playhouse in 2022 to further develop the cultural and leisure offer scene in the town.

Plans include investment in the Prescot Picture Palace – a grade two-listed building that is being restored as a cinema.

However, the bid failed, along with another Knowsley Council bid over Huyton.

Meanwhile, £15.3m was awarded for a project in Halewood in the latest round of Levelling Up funding.

READ > Levelling Up bid for regeneration of Gamble Building unsuccessful

Leader of Knowsley Council, Cllr Graham Morgan: “I’m pleased that we’ve secured £15.3m of Government funding to support our plans for Halewood and ensuring communities get the services and facilities they deserve. It’s an exciting time for Halewood.”

He also spoke of his disappointment at losing out on two other bids, including £20m plans as part of Huyton’s regeneration and £8m for Prescot.

Cllr Morgan said: “Obviously we are incredibly disappointed that our two other bids – which were just as robust and worthy of ‘Levelling Up’ – have been knocked back.

“We haven’t had any feedback from DLUHC but we will be seeking that information in the coming days and weeks.”

He added he is “keen to understand” how a Priority 1 area such as Knowsley could lose out on some of its proposals in this round of bidding.

In St Helens, a bid for the regeneration of The Gamble Building has been unsuccessful, while £20m for Earlestown’s regeneration plans was awarded.