GrantRadar

National Highways

Community Legacy Fund

Capital grants of £500 to £10,000 from National Highways for non-profit groups near motorways and major roads that are affected by its live roadworks or diversion routes. Projects must leave a lasting legacy under at least one of National Highways' social value pillars: economic prosperity, the environment, community wellbeing, or equality, diversity and inclusion. The fund runs in short rounds through the year; this round is open 22 to 29 October 2026, starting with an expression of interest.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£500 – £10,000
Closes in
6 days left
29 October
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Non-profit groups and organisations located geographically close to a motorway or major road maintained by National Highways (England's strategic road network), which can show how they or the community they work in are currently affected by National Highways roadworks or diversion routes
  • The roadworks must be live and in place at the time of applying, and applicants should check that National Highways, not the local council, is responsible for them

What it funds

Capital costs only, i.e. tangible items rather than day-to-day items (for example arts supply storage but not paints), for projects that deliver at least one of these:

  • Economic prosperity – investing in new skills, employment and training opportunities
  • Improving the environment – making sustainable decisions that conserve natural resources and enhance ecosystems
  • Community wellbeing – addressing health-related issues and improving connectivity, amenities, education, and heritage programmes for communities
  • Equality, diversity, and inclusion – supporting the creation of a more equal society by increasing opportunities for under-represented groups

proposals must deliver positive value, lasting benefits and a meaningful legacy for local people, communities, the environment or the economy.

What it will not fund

  • Day-to-day (non-capital) costs
  • Projects that have already happened (no retrospective funding)
  • Roadworks that are not live, or that National Highways is not responsible for
  • Applications relating to the Lower Thames Crossing, which has its own community fund
  • Applications relating to the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet project, which had its own funds
  • More than one application relating to the same set of roadworks per month

How to apply

  1. Check that the roadworks affecting you are live and are National Highways' responsibility (its 'roads we manage' map)
  2. Submit the expression of interest (EOI) form linked from the Find a Grant page by 1pm on 29 October 2026
  3. If your EOI meets the criteria, complete the full application you are invited to submit

places are allocated first come, first served, as only a small amount of funding is available in each round.

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