Merton Council has launched a £1 million neighbourhood funding programme to enhance community spaces and invest in infrastructure across the borough.

As a council, we recognise the huge challenges many organisations face as a result of coronavirus, and this will be an opportunity for community groups, voluntary sector, charities, and other organisations across the borough to submit bids to the Neighbourhood Fund for the funding via the council’s website.

This year’s bidding to the Neighbourhood Fund opened on Tuesday 12  May and will close on Friday 3 July, with a decision on successful bids made at Merton Council’s Cabinet meeting in September.

The key criteria for funding, is how proposed projects will bridge the gap between the east and the west of the borough – to reduce the economic and social inequalities measured against our community plan, but also projects which will enhance neighbourhoods which have seen new developments and homes built.  Last year, the council received bids to the fund totalling £2.4m, with nearly £1m given out to 14 projects from across the borough following a competitive process.

The funding for the Neighbourhood Fund comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – which is money developers are required to pay as part of planning consent to support the demands their development will place on the local area.

Merton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing and Transport, Councillor Martin Whelton, said:

“In these very challenging times, we see this as part of our recovery plan as we slowly emerge from the unprecedented restrictions placed on our activities and daily life. The process will contribute towards rebuilding our communities and addressing economic challenges.

“We have seen first-hand the work of many Merton heroes throughout this crisis and how important the community sector has been to the borough. With challenges on funding, this is an ideal opportunity for our community organisations, voluntary sector and charities to submit bids which is why we have launched this £1 million pound bidding process at this time.

“In recent years we have seen many exciting creative and diverse projects which have received funding, and I would encourage bids which can help make a difference to people’s lives and enhance the local community.”

For the criteria for bids and the application form visit: www.merton.gov.uk/neighbourhoodfund

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 the Regulations and Government guidance. Funding is approved as part of the Capital Programme allocation process.

Last year more than £405,000 of the Neighbourhood Fund money was earmarked for projects which directly addressed the income, skills and health gaps between the east and west of the borough. This included:

• £130,000 for the Commonside Community Development Trust for its work to support the residents in the Pollards Hill area.
• £30,000 for Move More Mitcham for activities to promote the well-being of residents.
• £40,000 for Deen City Farm to support its well-loved range of free and low cost of activities.
• £50,000 to spruce up Bramcote Parade shops and buildings to help revitalise the Cricket Green area of Mitcham by making it a much more attractive place for people to visit and invest.

Many other parades of shops and town centres across the borough have been given a new lease of life thanks to cash allocated in previous rounds of neighbourhood funding – this includes the Broadway Conservation Area and Colliers Wood High Street Parade refurbishments.

Funds, totalling £319,000, were also allocated to projects which will support the demands the Wimbledon Stadium development is to place on the local area around Plough Lane.