BASINGSTOKE and Deane has been revealed as one of the 10 best places to live in the UK as part of the government’s levelling up plan.

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove has unveiled plans to close the gap between different parts of the UK, with different areas being used as models for how the government wants the whole of Britain to look.

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Levelling up was a key feature of the Conservative Party’s 2019 election pledge and is aimed at lessening the gap between different parts of the UK.

This could be addressing issues such as wealth inequality, broadband, education and transport.

Mr Gove published a 322-page white paper outlining the government’s plans, alongside an analysis of 25 indicators used to measure the levelled up status of different parts of the UK, published by the Office for National Statistics.

It identifies 12 national levelling up missions which will shift government focus and resources to Britain’s forgotten communities.

Each area is rated for factors including smoking rates, childhood and adult obesity, anxiety levels, employment levels, GCSEs achieved, Ofsted ratings for schools, and employment rate.

Basingstoke and Deane came eighth highest for the most ‘levelled up’ parts of the UK, with Richmond upon Thames coming top.

Hart, which includes the nearby Odiham, Hartley Wintney and Hook, came seventh.

The lowest scoring areas were Middlesbrough, Blackpool and Rochdale.

Of the 15 measures available for Basingstoke and Deane, six were classed as positive and none were negative.

The statistics showed that people living in the borough in 2019 earned an average of £47.50 for gross value added per hour worked.

Residents’ gross median weekly pay in 2021 was £635.50 while employment rate in 2020 was 80.6 per cent.

However, the borough has more overweight adults than the UK average according to the statistics.

Following the publication of the white paper last week, Mr Gove said: “Not everyone shares equally in the UK’s success. For decades, too many communities have been overlooked and undervalued. As some areas have flourished, others have been left in a cycle of decline.”

He added: “Levelling up and this white paper is about ending this historic injustice and calling time on the postcode lottery.”

Prime minister Boris Johnson said the mission is to “break the link between geography and destiny so that no matter where you live you have access to the same opportunities”.

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