Published: Friday 9 June 2023
Residents and community groups can apply now to fund projects in their neighbourhood in Kensington and Chelsea until 30 July.
The funding comes from contributions received from new developments. Developers are required to put aside some money for local communities in the areas where they build in the borough, this is called Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy.
This round, there is a total of £3.9m to bid for. Funding has to be spent in the wards where development has occurred which means more is available in some areas than others. To make this fairer, the Council top slices 25 per cent of contributions and they are redistributed across the wards.
Projects should help improve the local area. Top priorities established through a consultation with the community came out as air quality, policing and emergency services, parks and open spaces, streetscape and community safety.
Recent projects that were awarded funding include:
- Acoustic cameras in Sloane Street and Pont Street
- Resurfacing of a sports pitch in Kensal
- A community allotment at Lancaster West Estate
- Speed indicators and CCTV in several locations around the borough
- Planting and tree maintenance
- Cycle hangers
- Public art
Cllr Cem Kemahli, Lead Member for planning, place and environment, said:
“Residents are perfectly placed to suggest things that would make the biggest difference in their own streets. From new trees and improved footways, to enhanced street cleaning and CCTV, to art and sport, there’s a wide range of things we can fund for your neighbourhood through NCIL.
“Our ambition is for a greener, safer, fairer borough and with money to spend in every ward, ideas are welcome from across Kensington and Chelsea.”
Residents’ associations, local community groups, registered charities, infrastructure providers and community interest companies from all over the borough can apply to the fund, even in areas where there have been no new developments this year.
Applications are open until 30 July 2023 and will be assessed against scoring criteria by officers. Ward councillors will make final decisions on money awarded to projects in their ward. Projects delivered by the council will be worked into departmental workplans in the next financial year. Projects delivered by the community can commence once ward members decisions have been confirmed through an executive decision and arrangements for receipt of funding have been agreed.
The application pack is available online along with a full list of previously funded projects via our NCIL storymap.