The next round of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) applications has opened – and groups have until February 1 to apply.
West Norfolk Council’s CIL funding is drawn from a levy on development in the borough and can be used for a variety of projects which improve community assets.
Previous projects which have benefited from funding have included fire escape replacements in Denver, car park resurfacing works in West Winch, and playground construction in West Dereham.
Cllr Jim Moriarty, the authority’s cabinet member for planning and licensing, said: “Supporting communities and promoting growth and prosperity in West Norfolk are two of the council’s key priorities for our borough.
“With CIL funding you can see these priorities being delivered in a very real way because you can see the difference they will make both at grassroots level in communities and across West Norfolk.
“Its current focus is on supporting communities to pay for local infrastructure – in practice this usually means something like a community amenity that can be widely enjoyed.
“We’ve had the pleasure of funding many local schemes, such as creating or improving children’s play areas and new sporting facilities.
“If you have an idea for a scheme that will benefit your community, it’s worth thinking about whether it could be funded by CIL.”
CIL funding can be used in the following areas:
• Green infrastructure projects
• Projects relating to public open spaces, such as new or improved footpaths and cycleways, to support new development
• Installation and improvement of public play areas and equipment
• Open spaces used for education, to support environmental initiatives
• Improvement of habitats for wildlife and nature, to alleviate the effects of new development
• Environmental services such as flood defence or absorption of air pollution
• Leisure time activities infrastructure
• Infrastructure projects that support accessible leisure time activities, such as new facilities or the improvement or upgrade of existing facilities, to enable an increase of usage, to support new development of an area
The following types of projects cannot be considered for CIL funding as they do not fall within the definition of infrastructure to support new development:
• Projects in areas with no development, which cannot demonstrate how they benefit the wider community or support new development
• Improvements to private enterprises/charitable or community facilities, unless they increase capacity
• The provision of services – payments to individuals/businesses which are not specifically related to new development
• Staffing costs
• Ongoing maintenance costs for completed projects
• Projects that do not increase the capacity of a facility, building or structure
• Projects that relate to sundry items, such as miscellaneous small items, or works that do not fit within the definition of infrastructure
The minimum sum that can be applied for is £2,000. There is no upper limit, but funding will be based on the amount available to be allocated.
Any amount approved above £50,000 goes to the council’s cabinet for final approval.
For more information, visit https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/cil-applications
More than £1.3million was awarded in the last CIL allocation to support 39 infrastructure projects.
Successful applicants this time around will be decided at a CIL panel later this year.