CIL: Neighbourhood Fund
The Neighbourhood Fund, formerly known as the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy, consists of money made up of a levy developers pay us whenever new homes or retail space is built in in Mole Valley.
The Neighbourhood Fund is available to be spent on projects (usually referred to as ‘infrastructure’) that help address the demands additional development can bring on local areas and communities. A little over £1 million is available.
Whilst the Neighbourhood Fund has been available for a number of years, it was decided in 2022 that the process should be revamped to better understand what communities actually need funding for. We ran an eight-week consultation later that year to help identify the three most important priorities where you live.
The results of the consultation will help inform future decision-making as to what funding is prioritised to a project, depending what has been applied for and where it is located in Mole Valley.
Projects must involve delivering infrastructure which benefits the local community; either by providing new infrastructure or repairing/maintaining existing infrastructure.
Projects must be deliverable and represent value for money, not to mention they also need to be supported by the local community.
A project could include anything from
- the renovation of a community centre
- installing a bus shelter
- building a new playground
- adding clear road signage
- improving road drainage
- putting in pedestrian crossing
For example, funding was awarded to the following projects, as part of the winter (2023) round of applications:
North of Mole Valley
- Improve cricket facilities at Chrystie Recreation Ground, Bookham – £25,000 (subject to conditions)
- The Grange, Bookham, to assist with plans to create an outdoor learning community centre – £15,000 (subject to conditions)
- Improve/resurface the pathway between Levett Road Estate and the A243 Footbridge, Leatherhad – £65,000 (subject to conditions)
South of Mole Valley
- Surrey County Council to install nice Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) Displays in Dorking town centre – £84,920 (subject to conditions)
- Replace the existing solar powered Vehicle Sign (VAS) with an electric VAS in Westcott – £7,500 (subject to conditions)
- Address immediate statutory works recommended in the fire safety assessment at Westcott Village Hall – £2,600 (subject to conditions)
Anyone can come up with a suggestion for spending on new or existing infrastructure. Be that an individual person or a community group.
There is no limit on how much funding can be bid for on an individual project, although the amount bid for will need to be appropriate for the type and scale of course.
There are three rounds of funding every year (spring, summer and winter).
The next deadline for bids to be submitted for consideration is:
- Summer: 3 June 2024
Before submitting an application, please email sarah.oram@molevalley.gov.uk or call 01306 885001 to ensure there are funds available in your area.
How you apply for funding is defined by where the project the funding relates to is located in Mole Valley.
If the project is in the following ‘non-parished locations’:
- Ashtead
- Bookham
- Box Hill
- Dorking
- Fetcham
- Leatherhead
- Pixham/Westhumble
- Westcott
Then your application needs to be made through our online form.
There are guidance notes available which should be read before completing the form. Funds in non-parished areas are managed and distributed by us.
If the project is located in the following ‘parished’ locations, then funding requests should be directed to the appropriate parish council clerk.
- Abinger
- Betchworth
- Brockham
- Buckland
- Capel
- Charlwood
- Headley
- Holmwood (south)
- Leigh
- Mickleham
- Newdigate
- Ockley
- Wotton
Guidance *for the use and reference of Parish council clerks only* is available. Fund are managed and distributed by the respective parish council.
Members assigned to the North and South of the district Working Groups consider bids at meetings held three times a year (spring, summer and winter) before recommending funding awards for the Cabinet to decide upon.
Funding awards are defined by the list of priorities created from the results of the public consultation in 2022 (15 being the highest priority, down to 1, the lowest priority).
Priorities have been split into north and south of the district as follows:
North
15. Outdoor activity equipment in parks (e.g. playgrounds, skate parks, outdoor gyms or all-weather shelters)
= 14. Biodiversity (e.g. allotments, planting in public areas, wildlife projects
= 14. Health (e.g. schemes that improve health facilities)
12. Pedestrian and cycle routes
11. Education (e.g. improvements at schools or school playgrounds)
10. Community facilities (e.g. improvements to community halls or facilities for projects such as community kitchens
9. Climate Change (e.g. energy use reduction or vehicle charging)
8. Affordable housing
7. Streetscape (e.g.benches, signs, lighting or planters)
6. Sports and leisure facilities (e.g. community sports equipment and facilities)
5. Road safety measures (e.g. calming, tactile kerbs or safety signs)
4. Air quality (e.g. monitoring, vehicle charging or tree planting)
3. Public and community transport (e.g. passenger information or bus shelters)
2. Waste (e.g. facilities for community waste/composting schemes)
1. Cultural facilities (e.g. facilities for community arts or performing arts projects)
South
15. Outdoor activity equipment in parks (e.g. playgrounds, skate parks, outdoor gyms or all-weather shelters)
14. Climate Change (e.g. energy use reduction or vehicle charging)
13. Education (e.g. improvements at schools or school playgrounds)
= 12. Biodiversity (e.g. allotments, planting in public areas, wildlife projects)
= 12. Pedestrian and cycle routes
= 12. Affordable housing
9. Road safety measures (e.g. calming, tactile kerbs or safety signs)
8. Community facilities (e.g. improvements to community halls or facilities for projects such as community kitchens
7. Streetscape (e.g.benches, signs, lighting or planters)
6. Health (e.g. schemes that improve health facilities)
5. Sports and leisure facilities (e.g. community sports equipment and facilities)
4. Air quality (e.g. monitoring, vehicle charging or tree planting)
3. Waste (e.g. facilities for community waste/composting schemes)
2. Cultural facilities (e.g. facilities for community arts or performing arts projects)
1. Public and community transport (e.g. passenger information or bus shelters)