Community groups invited to apply for Community Infrastructure Levy funding

Community groups across West Norfolk are being invited to apply for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.

CIL funding is drawn from a levy on development in the borough and can be used for a variety of projects that improve community assets.

Cllr Jim Moriarty, West Norfolk Council’s cabinet member for development and regeneration, said: “CIL can be used to fund all sorts of assets. Its purpose is to help local areas deliver the infrastructure needed to support development so there is a pretty broad range of projects it can be used to fund.

“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.”

The CIL criteria have been reviewed for the latest round of applications, making them both broader and simpler. This means projects that might not have been eligible in the past may now be considered.

The minimum sum that can be applied for is £2,000. There is no upper limit as such but funding will be based on the amount available to be allocated.

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, 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, i.e. miscellaneous small items or works that do not fit within the definition of infrastructure