GrantRadar

Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape

Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) 2027-28

Defra-funded grants, managed by the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape, for projects that conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the National Landscape while supporting sustainable development, partnership and social inclusion. Open to community and conservation organisations, other public, private and voluntary bodies and, where there is wider public benefit, individuals. The panel usually awards up to £6,000 per project; grants over £1,000 cover up to 70% of project value (the rest can be in kind, such as volunteer time), while small grants up to £1,000 can cover 100% of costs. The 2027-28 fund is up to £49,000 in total, for projects delivered April 2027 to 9 March 2028.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £6,000
Deadline
100 days left
3 February
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Organisations and groups from the public, private or voluntary sectors
  • Applications from individuals are not precluded, but there must be wider public benefit and most applications are expected to come from organisations, groups of people or partnerships
  • The project must benefit the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape (from Kessingland in north Suffolk south to the Stour estuary in north Essex; check the green shaded area on the fund's Google map)
  • Applicants can be based inside or outside it, and a project located outside can be funded if the benefit is achieved for or within the National Landscape (for example for transient wildlife or views from it)
  • Applicants need a bank account for payment or can nominate a partner organisation's
  • A separate SDF covers the Dedham Vale National Landscape and needs its own application

What it funds

Projects that conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the National Landscape and contribute to environmental, social and economic sustainability. Costs the fund may support include:

  • Capital works
  • Practical conservation work
  • Public access and infrastructure improvements
  • Activities
  • Training
  • Equipment
  • Materials
  • Technology
  • Information and interpretation
  • Native planting
  • Publicity
  • Contract work or professional services
  • Up to 20% of project value as overhead costs (e.g. staff and office costs), higher in some circumstances
  • VAT, where the grant is paid to an organisation or individual that is not VAT registered

Preference goes to projects that work with grassroots communities on caring for the National Landscape, enhance landscape character or biodiversity, educate about sustainable development, provide sustainable access, recreation and tourism, address climate change, support sustainable transport, or promote local products.

What it will not fund

  • VAT costs for VAT-registered organisations
  • Projects that do not benefit the National Landscape area
  • Work or publicity started before the formal grant offer letter is received and the signed funding agreement returned

How to apply

  1. Contact the National Landscape Grants Officer, Oka Last (grants@suffolkandessex-nl.org.uk, 01394 445225), to discuss your project idea (optional; the Grants Officer offers support from before applying through to completion)
  2. Check on the fund map that your project is within or benefits the fund area
  3. Download and complete the 2027-28 SDF Application Form (Word), ticking the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape fund, and one Budget Form (Excel): Budget Table 1 for grants up to £1,000 or Budget Table 2 for grants over £1,000
  4. Email both, with any supporting maps, photos or drawings, to grants@suffolkandessex-nl.org.uk by 23:59 on 3 February 2027, or post them to the National Landscape Office, Saxon House, 1 Whittle Road, Hadleigh Road Industrial Estate, Ipswich IP2 0UF
  5. Receipt is acknowledged by email within 5 working days; applications are assessed first by advisors, then by the fund's panel, who may ask for more information or offer less than requested
  6. If successful, sign and return the funding agreement sent with the formal grant offer letter before starting delivery or publicity; a 50% up-front payment may be requested, otherwise the grant is paid in arrears on the final claim
  7. Send a short mid-year update, then a final claim (end of grant monitoring form, bank details form or invoice, a one-page report with evidence of expenditure, final budget, publicity evidence and at least two photos) by the date in the offer letter, usually early to mid March

Application by email is encouraged; forms in other formats are available from the Grants Officer on request.

Have ready

  • Completed 2027-28 SDF Application Form
  • Completed Budget Form (Budget Table 1 for grants up to £1,000, Budget Table 2 for grants over £1,000)

Maps, photos or drawings supporting the proposal can be attached separately.

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