DEMAND outstripped supply ten times over in the latest round of community grants in Stratford district.
Stratford District Council’s Cabinet has allocated over £2million of Community Infrastructure Levy Funds to five local projects including community centres, a village hall, a hospital and a public open space.
But if SDC had provided funding to all the high priority projects who applied for funding, the total cost would have been ten times as much – at over £20million.
SDC’s economic spokesperson Coun George Cowcher said: “We are delighted to be able to support projects across the district with this latest round of CIL funding. The money will help pay towards projects that improve our health, wellbeing and the environment.
“We know that new developments can add additional pressures to existing infrastructure, but CIL funding is an important tool to help our service providers meet any additional needs.
“As with any funding opportunity, demand has clearly outstripped supply and it’s just not possible to fund all the high priority projects as this would equate to a total cost of over £20million.”
The funds arise from CIL – the charge SDC applies to new developments to fund improvements to infrastructure. Developers make the CIL contribution on residential or retail developments in Stratford district.
Stratford Youth Collective will receive £149,000 to support the second stage redevelopment of a universal youth hub, The Ministry, in Stratford.
The Learning and Community Hub in Henley Street, Stratford is set to receive £650,000 for the improvement, modernisation and repurposing of 22 Henley Street/43 Guild Street into a first-class learning and community hub.
A new South Warwickshire Community Diagnostic Centre at Stratford Hospital will receive £1million, as part of an £8million project, to provide ambulatory and diagnostic care closer to the people in the Stratford area.
Luddington Village Hall is set to receive £93,410 for an infill single storey extension and improvements to create a flexible additional space which can be independently hired or used to extend the capacity of the main hall.
And the redevelopment of Fenny Compton Sports and Play Area will receive £130,000 to remove the current sports pavilion and replace it with a modern changing room, toilet, kitchenette and storage facility and upgrade the current playground equipment to make it inclusive and safe for all users.
