Purpose

 

Shared prosperity funding for green space
improvements

 
The Government has
launched a £2.6 billion national Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF)
that aims to empower local communities to deliver projects that can
be targeted to where it is needed most and will improve pride in
place. The funding must be spent by March 2025. In Cambridgeshire
the funding is administered by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Combined Authority and South Cambridgeshire District Council has
initially received £150,000 for the green space project.
 
Agreement to invest in four projects on
Council owned land following assessment of viable
options:
 

a.   
Land at Orchard Close, Little
Wilbraham – the site already has a
multi-use games area, a few pieces of play equipment, and an
allotment. However, the site is significant in size and much of the
green space is underutilised, so it provides an excellent
opportunity for improvement to benefit the community. There are not
many other more formal green spaces in the village.

b.   
Land at De Freville Road, Great
Shelford – the site is a good size,
there is no other more formal green space within 1km of the site.
Residents who live in this area are often elderly and/or living
alone, and a project here would enhance the green space for this
demographic, encouraging socialising.

c.   
Land at Silverdale Avenue, Coton
– This site currently has an informal football
pitch which local children use and is over 1km from the recreation
ground. It is central to a housing estate, and enhancements would
offer a better-quality, better-defined, and safer area for all
users.

d.   
Land at Meadowcroft Way, Orwell
– this site was favoured by the Housing Team
when sites were being reviewed. There is current feedback from some
residents who have a desire to see improvements to the communal
green space in front of their homes as they see the opportunity to
make it better for local people and bring the community
together. 
 
 

Parish/Town Council application process
 
Agreement to improvements to at least three further green spaces
through an application process running from 14th May
2024 to 12th July 2024, whereby Town and Parish Councils
will be given an opportunity to apply for funding, and support, to
improve an area that they feel would benefit their community. The
final decision will be made by the Lead Member for
Communities.
 
The
grant funding available for the three or more remaining projects
will be in the region of £75,000 therefore each project will
have approximately £25,000 to deliver the improvements
(funding may be increased via receipt of grant funding from other
SPF underspent projects)
 
Town/Parish Councils applying will be asked to:
 

a.   
demonstrate that land is in their control, or
immediately available for improvement before March 2025.

b.   
provide a site location map and explanation of the
type of improvements they want to implement.

c.   
commit to maintain the site to the necessary
standard after the initial works are complete.

d.   
ensure their elected district councillor(s) is/are
aware of the application.

e.   
demonstrate the need for improved green space and
impact the improvement would have for local people in terms of
health and wellbeing.

f.    
demonstrate how local people and volunteers will get
involved in the planning, delivery, or maintenance of the green
space.

g.   
detail if any other funding, from the Town/Parish
Council or third party, will be committed to the delivery of the
project (this is not a pre-requisite).

Content

Agreement to invest in
improvements at four green spaces on SCDC owned land through Shared
Prosperity Funding. And agreement for bidding process for green
space improvements for Town/Parish Councils with an application
window running from 14th May 2024 to 12th
July 2024.