Uncertainty remains over whether additional parts of Somerset will benefit from the government's 'pride in place' funding.
The Labour government announced its pride in place programme in September 2025, with 169 of the UK's most deprived neighbourhoods receiving £20m over a ten-year period to "build strong, resilient and integrated communities" through regeneration projects.
The Bridgwater South neighbourhood - which includes large sections of the Hamp area of the town - was the only neighbourhood selected in the Somerset Council area within this phase of the programme.
The government announced in late-January that a further 40 neighbourhoods would be added to the programme in a further phase, with £800m being committed on top of the £5bn originally set aside.
But neither the government nor Somerset Council has been able to ascertain whether other parts of Somerset are included within these 40 new neighbourhoods - and Bridgwater may not begin to see the benefits of the funding until the middle of next year.
Bridgwater MP Sir Ashley Fox had pushed for Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge to be included in the programme when Bridgwater's funding was announced in September 2025.
Speaking at the time, he said: "I have been lobbying hard for our town, so I welcome this announcement as the only town in Somerset to have secured funding.
"Bridgwater has already benefited from almost £45m through the town deal and levelling up funding from the last government.
"This additional £20m over the next ten years will build on that investment and help deliver further improvements for Bridgwater.
"I am, however, disappointed that Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge was not included, particularly as there are some acute needs in parts of those communities.
"One of my first acts as MP was to lobby for additional investment into Burnham and Highbridge, so I am sad this has not been forthcoming.
"Nevertheless, this is positive news for Bridgwater and I look forward to meeting with ministers to understand how we can get the best out of this programme for local residents."
Somerset Council said it was in the early stages of assembling the neighbourhood board which would guide regeneration projects forward over the coming decade.
A spokesperson said: "The timetable set by the government requires us to focus upon the appointment of an independent chair, community engagement and the development of a regeneration plan for the area.
"This needs to be submitted to the government at the end of 2026 for its approval in the spring of 2027.
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"Our initial focus is the recruitment of an independent chair who we will work with thereafter to establish the neighbourhood board.
"The regeneration plan will identify the priorities for the area and be the basis from which projects are funded from 2027/28 onwards."
The council added that it was still in discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) over the possible inclusion of other Somerset neighbourhoods within the pride in place programme.
The spokesperson said: "The government announced in January 2026 that there would be an additional allocation of funds for the pride in place programme and that 40 additional areas across England will be identified past the focus for this.
We have been in touch with the MHCLG and understand that these areas will be identified in due course and the selection will be made by the application off centrally determined statistical criteria.
"There is no process through which the council or any other body can press for the designation of specific communities under the pride in place programme."
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