17 Cheltenham projects awarded over £136k from Neighbourhood Fund

A total of £136,938 from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund has been awarded to 17 projects across Cheltenham’s non-parished areas.

Earlier this year, formally constituted not-for-profit organisations across non-parished areas were invited to bid for a share of the Neighbourhood CIL Fund to improve their local area that has been affected by development.

To be eligible for the fund, projects needed to have an economic, social or environmental objective and deliver publicly accessible physical improvements and address the demands that development places on an area, including contributing to carbon net zero.

A wide range of applications were received, and the council’s Neighbourhood CIL panel met twice to review the applications and make recommendations to cabinet. The panel put forward 15 projects to be awarded funding, with a further two projects also funded following an increase to the funds available. The next round of CIL funding will be made available when funds allow.

Cllr Mike Collins, cabinet member for planning and building control, said: “It is great news for Cheltenham that we are supporting a total of 17 projects right across all areas of the town without a parish council. The exciting projects that have been made possible include the development of a community garden at St Aidan’s Church in Hesters Way; solar panels for Cheltenham Sea Cadets, 10th Cheltenham Scouts at Pittville Park and Holy Apostles Primary School; play area improvements in Hatherley Park, St Peter’s Square and Fiddlers Green and capital investments into the Everyman Theatre’s Education Centre in Grove Street, the Playhouse Theatre, the EcoHub in St Paul’s and Common Ground Cheltenham (a multi-use community and young people’s space in Brooklyn Road). 

“The Community Infrastructure Levy is an effective, transparent and fair way for developers to pay something back to the communities impacted by development.’’

The funds have been collected from new developments as part of the normal planning process and are intended to support community projects that have a social, environmental or economic objective in areas where development has taken place to address the demands that development places on a local area. In areas with a parish council, these funds are passed directly to the parish council, but for areas without a parish council, the borough council holds and distributes the funds. 

Anka Jablonska, from the Common Ground project, said: “We are thrilled to receive the CIL grant, which will allow us to continue carrying out necessary repairs and improvements to the Common Ground building. This support helps us create welcoming, safe and inclusive space for everyone in our community. With this investment we are step closer to building place where people come together, connect and feel real sense of belonging.”

Ian Mason, chair of Monkscroft Community Action Group, said: “We’re delighted to hear that Monkscroft Community Action Group’s bid for £9,000 for our Reimagining Spaces project was successful. We are really excited to be able to provide garden furniture and shelters in our green spaces and gardens for residents to use, where currently there are none. Over the six years since the group has been operating, we have always managed to do a lot with a little and make sure every bit counts for facilities for residents here to build the sense of community”.

More neighbourhood funds will be available in future as developers make further contributions.

The projects awarded that are to benefit communities include:

A full list of applicants and further project details can be found on the council’s website.

ENDS

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Notes:

The bidding round closed on 19 May 2025 and a total of 28 applications were received, requesting a total of £257,361 in funding.