Research and analysis

Adur UKSPF evaluation: interim findings

Updated 3 December 2025

Applies to England

1. Executive Summary: Adur interim findings

1.1 Introduction

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) provides a total of £3.5 billion of funding for local investment over four years (2022 to 2026), with all places in the UK receiving an allocation via a funding formula. Local decision-makers work with their local communities and partners to deliver interventions under three investment priorities: Communities and Place, Supporting Local Businesses and People and Skills.

This interim report presents the emerging findings from the place level evaluation of UKSPF in Adur, based on research conducted between October 2024 and February 2025. It outlines the progress made to date and presents interim evaluation findings.

1.2 Key process evaluation findings

Intervention design

• Adur has benefitted from its joint delivery of UKSPF with Worthing Borough Council, enabling it to draw on delivery insights and best practice from Worthing.
• Adur’s dispersed geography makes delivery more challenging than in Worthing, which is more clearly defined. A formal 60/40 funding and delivery split helped prevent providers from concentrating solely on Worthing.
• The Council ensured successful delivery by selecting interventions it could confidently deliver, primarily by expanding existing activities.
• Extensive engagement with voluntary organisations and community groups helped ensure UKSPF delivery met local needs.

Portfolio implementation

• Delays in signing off Adur’s investment plan shortened the delivery period and prompted the Council to identify projects that could be quickly funded and completed.
• Adur Council faced challenges meeting capital expenditure requirements and would have liked to allocate a portion of this funding to revenue projects that would support and enhance capital investment.
• Drawing on other funding sources, for example Section 106 funds, Community Infrastructure Levies and pooled business rates, helped extend the reach of UKSPF interventions.

Intervention delivery

• Adur has delivered some interventions in-house, and used external delivery providers for others.
• External delivery partners brought the necessary skills and experience to meet project objectives, largely due to prior experience and understanding of local needs.
• The fund rules prevented Adur from front loading budgets or carrying spend over between financial years. This made it difficult for Adur to spend all UKSPF budgets by March 2025.
• Staff shortages, capacity constraints, and lead-in times for materials for capital projects compounded tight delivery timeframes causing delays and the abandonment of some interventions.

Data collection and monitoring

• Overlap between UKSPF and ERDF KPIs meant delivery providers were familiar with data collection and reporting requirements, making the process fit for purpose.
• Consultees noted that UKSPF monitoring processes did not adequately capture some of the intangible and more qualitative outcomes and impacts.
• Council staff reported technical issues in submitting monitoring data to MHCLG in years 1 and 2.

Programme oversight

• Adur has a three-tier oversight structure: project leads manage day-to-day activity and external providers, they report to the UKSPF management team, and elected members approve large value interventions. Overall, this structure has worked well.
• Consultees raised concerns about insufficient MHCLG resource making it difficult to receive timely UKSPF advice, further compromising already tight delivery timelines.

Progress to date: expenditure, outputs and outcomes

Adur received £1m UKSPF funding for 2022 to 2025. Council estimates show Adur allocated 55% of funds to People and Skills, 30% to Communities and Place, and 15% to Supporting Local Businesses.

• Communities and Place: Adur exceeded its output targets for the number of households receiving support, and the number of neighbourhood improvements undertaken. Adur has also exceeded its target outcomes for the 2022 to 2025 delivery period for the number of people engaged, and CO2 equivalent emissions.
• Supporting Local Businesses: MI data showed no target outputs or outcomes were achieved to date. This is not surprising as delivery only commenced in Year 3 (2024/25). However, qualitative evidence indicates that Adur businesses have received support, and are exploring new business practices.
• People and Skills: MI data indicates little progress against output targets albeit that qualitative evidence shows large-scale provision and take-up of support. Outcome progress has been limited too, according to MI data. Adur has achieved under 15% of each of its outcome targets for the entire USKPF delivery period.

1.3 Early impact findings

Adur has already made some progress against target impact areas.

• Resident wellbeing: UKSPF interventions have helped improve the financial wellbeing of vulnerable residents, and provided practical support to prevent homelessness. Monitoring data shows the Cycle Hire Scheme has contributed to residents burning calories.
• Decarbonisation: Monitoring data shows the Cycle Hire Scheme led to CO2 emissions savings.
• Better public service delivery: Council staff have improved knowledge on how to engage with different resident groups and community service providers. Participation Lab activities also helped break down silo working, enabling cross-team collaboration and more effective community engagement.

The final evaluation report will explore UKSPF outcomes and impacts in Adur in more depth.