GrantRadar

Northumberland County Council

S106 Housing Developer Fund (Sport and Play)

Northumberland County Council's S106 Housing Developer Fund uses pooled housing-developer contributions to give capital grants for children's play areas, outdoor sports facilities and (in some areas) indoor sport and recreation facilities. It only covers projects in the former Tynedale area, South East Northumberland and parts of North Northumberland, and depends on money being available in that area. Applicants must be legally constituted not-for-profit organisations such as parish and town councils, community groups, residents' associations, and sports clubs or schools that provide community use. Applications are scored by an S106 panel and grants are paid in arrears when the project is complete.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Amount not specified
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Legally constituted, not-for-profit organisations with a bank account, such as parish and town councils, community groups, residents' associations, sports clubs and schools (clubs and schools only if the Council is satisfied with arrangements for community use), and Council departments
  • Individuals and businesses are not eligible
  • The project must be in the former Tynedale area, South East Northumberland or the eligible parts of North Northumberland, and there must be S106 money available for that area
  • Club membership must be open to anyone regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or religion, and play areas must be open to the public
  • The applicant must own the land or hold a lease of normally at least 10 years
  • Applicants (other than town and parish councils) must give a signed constitution and 3 years' audited accounts out of the last 5
  • No income limit is published

What it funds

  • Capital items only: new or improved children's play areas and outdoor sports facilities, plus indoor sports in certain areas and recreation facilities in areas of the North
  • Examples include new play areas, new sports pitches or areas, new equipment in an existing play area, upgraded outdoor sports facilities such as changing rooms, and specialised sports equipment such as a cricket roller
  • Eligible costs can include design fees, buying or securing use of land, ground works, and buying and installing equipment and structures such as buildings, fences and lighting
  • A feasibility study can be included as a cost when it leads to a full capital project
  • Projects must be open to the public and address shortfalls in the amount, standard or distribution of facilities, and sports projects must show how they will increase or sustain sports capacity

What it will not fund

  • Revenue or routine maintenance costs
  • General grass-cutting machinery (sports machinery must be specialised for sport use only)
  • Stand-alone feasibility studies
  • Projects started or contractually committed before a written grant offer (unless prior written consent is given)
  • Goods, services or activity before the date of decision
  • Individuals or businesses
  • Projects outside the former Tynedale area, South East Northumberland or the eligible parts of North Northumberland
  • Increases in grant to cover cost overruns

How to apply

  1. Contact the Council to check whether S106 money is available for your area before applying (s106@northumberland.gov.uk, 0345 600 6400); advice is available before you apply
  2. Download the application pack from the Council's Funding for Sport and Play page: application form, Guidance Notes for Applicants, Additional Notes and Evaluation Criteria
  3. Consult the Council's Sports Development Team or Countryside and Green Spaces Team and/or the sport's national governing body (sports projects are scored on this)
  4. Get two written, realistic, like-for-like competitive quotes, and gather evidence of need (consultation results, letters of support, inspection or feasibility reports), land ownership or lease, and any planning permission
  5. Complete every question on the form (write 'not applicable' rather than leaving blanks), sign the declaration and tick the checklist
  6. Return the form and documents by email to s106@northumberland.gov.uk or post to S106 team, Planning Services, Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF
  7. The S106 panel scores the application against the evaluation criteria

Do not start or commit to the project before a written offer; the grant is paid in arrears on completion and must be repaid if the facility is disposed of or stops being used for its purpose within 10 years

Applications seeking a lower share of the total cost, with match funding already secured, score higher

Have ready

  • Completed and signed S106 Housing Developer Fund application form
  • Signed and dated copy of your constitution (not needed for town and parish councils)
  • 3 years (out of the past 5) audited accounts including balance sheet and income and expenditure account
  • Two written, realistic like-for-like quotes for all goods and works
  • Evidence of need (e.g. community consultation results, letters of support, inspection or feasibility report)
  • Copy of lease agreement (normally 10 years) if you do not own the land
  • Evidence of planning permission and owner permission where required
  • Supporting plans, drawings or photos of the project

Sports clubs should also enclose a copy of any quality mark or accreditation and any business/development plan

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