Major projects to revitalise sports facilities and a lido in Ipswich have been thrown into doubt after the town and Suffolk were overlooked for Levelling Up funding.

Ipswich Borough Council leader David Ellesmere has spoken of his 'bitter disappointment' after Suffolk missed out on any funding as the Government announced the 100 schemes that would receive a share of £2.1bn in round 2 of the Levelling Up grants.

The decision means the council will now have to 'review the viability' of projects to reopen Broomhill lido and create a new sports centre at Gainsborough after its £18m bid was rejected, which Mr Ellesmere described as a 'significant setback'.

Ipswich Star: A new sports centre would have been built to replace the existing Gainsborough Sports CentreA new sports centre would have been built to replace the existing Gainsborough Sports Centre (Image: Archant)

He said: "The council is bitterly disappointed that the Government has turned down our Levelling Up bid.

"The bid would have enabled Broomhill Lido to have been brought back to life and a new sports, athletics and gymnastics centre to have been developed at Gainsborough.

Ipswich Star: Broomhill lido would have been reopened if the £18m funding bid had been successfulBroomhill lido would have been reopened if the £18m funding bid had been successful (Image: Archant)

"We and our partners will now need to review the viability of both these projects. While we won’t rush into any decisions, there is no disguising that this is a significant setback.

"It is doubly disappointing that Suffolk County Council’s Ipswich-focused Levelling Up bid has also been refused by the Government.”