The next round of Merton’s Neighbourhood Fund is now open for bids from residents as well as community and business groups until Tuesday 7 May.

Merton Council is inviting bids from the community to a £350,000 pot of cash from this year’s Neighbourhood Fund. Projects that improve the environment or community facilities, and mitigate the demands a development has brought to an area, will be considered for funding. The funding comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)  – which is the money developers are required to pay to support the demands from developments across the borough.

Last year the successful bids to Merton’s Neighbourhood Fund included the St Mark’s Place Urban Lunchtime Zone project in Wimbledon to create a haven for people away from the bustle of Wimbledon town centre.  Works to rejuvenate shop fronts, including those in parades in Colliers Wood, were also funded from the scheme. The other winning bids included the Merton’s Lost Rivers project to revitalise the borough’s culverted rivers and improvement works to the street signs for Mitcham Cricket Green.

All bids will be assessed against criteria set out online to ensure they address neighbourhood priorities, are in line with the council’s community plans, and are deliverable. Residents should discuss their ideas with their Merton ward councillors in the first instance to ensure they support the bid.

Merton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing and Transport, Councillor Martin Whelton, said:  “Merton’s Neighbourhood Fund provides a wonderful opportunity to use funding from developers to make neighbourhood improvement. Thanks to the efforts of residents and community groups from across Merton who made bids last year, we were able to support a broad range of community schemes which are helping to make a real difference to their local environment. As a council we are also committed to bridging the gap between the east and west of the borough and ensuring that projects submitted also meet the priorities set out in the community plan.”

For the criteria for bids and the application form click Here

For more information email neighbourhoodFund@merton.gov.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS:                                                                                                                                        Merton Council also uses Community Infrastructure Levy funding to help pay for key infrastructure projects in accordance with Regulations and Government guidance. Funding is approved as part of the Capital Programme allocation process.