GrantRadar

East Cambridgeshire District Council

Section 106 funding for community facilities

East Cambridgeshire District Council's capital grants from developer (Section 106) contributions, which not-for-profit community organisations and parish councils can apply for to create or improve community facilities whose need has arisen at least in part from new housing development. It covers community centres and village halls, multi-purpose sports and leisure centres, play facilities and open spaces. The amount depends on the S106 money available for each community, and can be up to 100% of project costs if enough is available, though match funding is encouraged.

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

  • Community-based organisations operating on a not-for-profit basis in East Cambridgeshire (charities, companies limited by guarantee, industrial or provident societies, community interest companies and others), and parish councils in East Cambridgeshire
  • Applicants must have a constitution or set of rules, show they have consulted facility users and the local community, provide evidence of need, and have the written support of the local parish or town council
  • The facility must be open to the public with wide community benefit; applicants need ownership or the landowner's consent for the works (leases must be at least 25 years), a complete funding package once the S106 grant is offered, and a plan for the asset's long-term running and maintenance costs

What it funds

Capital projects that provide new or improved community or social infrastructure, where new development has at least in part contributed to the need:

  • Community centres or village halls that are the main community centre in a village: new builds, extensions, refurbishment, disabled facilities and works to widen usage (e.g. a new kitchen, complete re-roofing, entrance improvements including access ramps and automatic door openers)
  • Multi-purpose sports and leisure centres serving the public: new facilities, extensions, refurbishment or disabled facilities (e.g. a new sprung floor, complete re-surfacing of an astro-turf pitch, upgrading toilets and changing areas for accessibility)
  • Play facilities: building new or substantially refurbishing play areas, teenage zones, skateboard facilities and similar (e.g. new play equipment, new safety surface, a youth shelter)
  • Open spaces: buying or leasing land for public open space, recreation and allotments (leases of at least 25 years, or a covenant protecting public access), and improvements to existing open spaces such as access, education or other facilities (e.g. a new accessible trail and signage, land for a community orchard)

What it will not fund

  • Revenue funding towards ongoing running costs
  • Minor repairs, maintenance and redecoration (e.g. replacing broken roof tiles, painting a meeting room, patch repairs to a pitch or safety surface, fixing a broken shower, repairing a sign or bench)
  • Movable equipment items (e.g. a new cooker, goal posts or other sports equipment)
  • Planting enhancements, except as part of whole woodland or orchard development projects
  • Facilities with membership restrictions (they must be open to the public with no membership restrictions in relation to the Equality Act 2010)
  • Projects whose need has not arisen, at least in part, from new development
  • Leasehold projects with a lease of less than 25 years

How to apply

  1. Check the project meets the eligibility criteria (capital only, need linked to new development, open to the public) and get written endorsement from your parish or town council
  2. Apply online through the council's form, or download and complete the Section 106 Grant application form
  3. Send a paper or emailed form with supporting documents to s106grants@eastcambs.gov.uk or to Communities and Partnerships Department, East Cambridgeshire District Council, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4EE
  4. An officer assesses the application against the criteria and another officer approves it; the decision comes as a formal grant offer letter
  5. Once the work is done and expenditure incurred, claim the grant with receipted invoices or accounts and a Self Certification Form (larger projects can be paid in up to four instalments)

the amount available depends on the S106 money held for your community; council officers can advise on other sources of match funding

Have ready

  • Written endorsement from the local parish council (e.g. meeting minutes or an email from the chair or clerk)
  • Written evidence of your organisation's status (e.g. constitution or charity number)
  • Business plan showing the need for the project, if applicable
  • Evidence of need, such as a community-led plan, village survey, play audit, Minor Highway Improvement Bid assessment or community consultation
  • Evidence of the landowner's permission for the works, if you do not own the asset
  • Planning permission and Building Regulations reference numbers, if required
  • Three written quotations for the works, with your preferred quote highlighted
  • Details of match funding

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