New £124,000 ‘Neighbourhood Fund’ available for Cheltenham communities

Individuals, communities and ward councillors across non-parished areas are eligible to apply for a share of the £124,000 funding to improve their local area that has been affected by development.

The funds have been collected from new developments as part of the normal planning process. The collective money is intended to support community projects that have a social, environmental or economic objective in areas where development has taken place. The funds are either held by the borough council (in areas without a parish council) or passed directly to parish councils (where these exist), this call for bids is now open from these non-parished communities. Bids for funds must be submitted by Sunday 30 April 2023.

Councillor Martin Horwood, member for customer and regulatory services, said: “This new Neighbourhood Fund is a great opportunity for community groups. I hope the money will make a real difference to local neighbourhoods.

“Whether communities identify a need to tackle climate change or air pollution, reduce anti-social behaviour, enhance green spaces or biodiversity, promote safe play or something else they feel would benefit their neighbourhood, I would urge any interested individuals or organisations to make a bid.  We’re looking for exciting ideas from our neighbourhoods that can make a real difference.”

To be considered, individuals, groups and organisations must show evidence, local views and aspirations for a neighbourhood area and the impact of new development on infrastructure.

Ward councillors can be contacted for bid writing information and support. Full details of what the Neighbourhood Fund CIL be spent on can be found online at Citizenspace. An informal briefing and Q&A session is being scheduled mid-February for relevant ward members and community groups, to note your interest please email [email protected]

For media enquiries contact [email protected]  01242 264 231

Notes:
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge, which local authorities can place on developers to help fund infrastructure needed to support new development in their areas.

The 9 wards that are entirely non-parished and eligible are as follows:

All Saints

Benhall and the Reddings

College

Hesters Way

Lansdown

St Marks

St Pauls

St Peters

Springbank

The 7 wards that are partly non-parished and eligible are as follows:

Battledown

Charlton Park

Oakley

Park

Pittville

Swindon Village

Warden Hill