OBJECTIVE 2

THE LONDON OBJECTIVE 2 PROGRAMME 2000-2006

The London Objective 2 Programme represents around £160 million of European funding. It reflects the aims of EU regional policy at the London level.

Whilst London is one of the world’s strongest financial centres, the fruits of its success are not currently shared by all of its residents or areas. It is in recognition of these inequalities that disadvantaged and declining areas of London have been awarded Objective 2 status.

Two types of funding in London’s Objective 2 Programme

The award of Objective 2 status means that areas are able to benefit from financial assistance provided under the EU’s Structural Funds.

• The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is mainly used to finance improvements in infrastructure, productive investment, local development and the environment.
• The European Social Fund (ESF) is mainly used to finance training activities

Requirement for match funding

Funding provided under the London Objective 2 Programme must be matched. This means that only parts of the total project costs can be funded by the ERDF or the ESF. The remainder must come from additional funding sources.

In this respect, the Programme differs from national funding streams which provide 100% funding. It was designed to work in harmony with or complement current government thinking in line with regeneration initiatives in deprived areas. In other words, the Programme aims to ‘add value’ to existing funding packages. For instance, ERDF or ESF funding could enable you to add value or extend the life of a project you are currently running with help from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF), the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) or the New Deal for Communities (NDC).

Areas covered

The London Objective 2 Programme covers 95 wards in 13 London Boroughs. The area has a total population of about 890,000 people. Four areas with geographic and economic characteristics have been identified.

• Inner East – covers 50 Objective 2 wards in the City fringe boroughs of Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets with a population of almost 210,000;
• Outer Thames Gateway – includes 11 Objective 2 wards in the south east boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Greenwich and Havering with a population of almost 93,000;
• Upper Lee Valley – includes 27 Objective 2 wards in the north London boroughs of Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest with a population of almost 210,000;
• West London – this includes 7 Objective 2 wards in the west London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent and Ealing with a population of almost 59,000.

You can find out if your area can access Objective 2 funding from the Postcode check on the Government Office for London website.

Four Area Partnerships (APs) have evolved around these areas. The Partnerships consist of local authorities, business and training advisory agencies, higher and further education colleges, the voluntary and private sectors. They play a key role in co-ordinating the delivery of the Objective 2 programme. Each Area Partnership is coordinated by Technical Assistance Officers.

You can find out more about the London Objective 2 Programme from the Government Office for London website.