8 January 2020
Neighbourhood Planning Grants and Support Programme 2018-2022
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is providing more than £23 million between 2018 – 2022 to support the development of neighbourhood plans or neighbourhood development orders. This follows on from the Department for Communities and Local Development (DCLG)’s £22.5 million Neighbourhood Planning Grants and Support Programme (2015-2018) and the Government’s £9.5 million Supporting Communities in Neighbourhood Planning programme (2013-2015).
The programme aims to support local communities that are drawing up a neighbourhood plan for their area. Neighbourhood planning was introduced in England by the Localism Act 2011 to give people a chance to decide how their local area should be developed and what should be built in the future. Groups will be able to determine where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built and have a say on what new buildings should look like.
The programme offers both funding in the form of a grant as well as technical support for those with more complex issues.
The programme is delivered by Locality, a national network of community-led organisations, who will also be assessing applications.
Applications for grants for 2019-2020 can be submitted until 5pm on 31 January 2020. This means the last date for completing an Expression of Interest form for a grant application is 5pm on 30 January (the application form must be submitted by 5pm on the 31 January 2020). Expenditure through a grant must be completed on or before 31 March 2020.
Applications for technical support will be considered on a rolling basis and are not affected by these timeframes.