The 17 projects are split into the Evaluation Development Fund and Trial Accelerator Fund programmes, which are receiving £2.36m and £7.34m respectively.

The projects include evaluations of state-funded free schools that operate outside of local authority control, and the opportunity areas programme, which is designed to support social mobility in areas facing entrenched deprivation.

The impact of on-demand bus services for underserved communities will also be assessed, as will the effectiveness of the Sure Start scheme, which works to improve the lives of young children growing up in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Funding for these projects comes from the UKRI Creating Opportunities and Improving Outcomes Strategic Theme.

Other projects include testing whether using pharmacies to offer holistic support services improves health outcomes for homeless adults in Scotland, an exploration of how cooperation between local planning authorities can tackle planning delays and improve housing supply, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of schemes aimed at accelerating local economic growth and innovation.

Professor Alison Park, head of UKRI’s Creating Opportunities and Improving Outcomes strategic theme, said: “Across the political spectrum, there is agreement that the regional disparities that exist in the UK do real social and economic damage.

“Policymakers and researchers have tried various ways of addressing those disparities, but we often don’t truly know how effective they are – or if there at better ways of achieving our goals.

“The projects announced today will help to fill this knowledge gap by evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions. That way, we can ensure policymakers focus their efforts on the best ways to improve lives and opportunities across every part of the UK.”