Residents to choose which community projects receive a share of £2.9 million council funding

Residents will get the chance to choose which community projects will receive a share of £2.9 million funding.

Lewisham residents are being encouraged to submit their ideas to the council of what they want to see funded in their local area.

Over £2.9m is available for community projects through Lewisham Council’s Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy ward fund, where each ward will be allocated a pot of funding to support projects in that area.

The funding will come from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which the Council charges on new developments in the borough.

Community groups will have until November 21 to submit their ideas and proposals for projects they want to see delivered in their neighbourhood.

Residents in each ward have already identified local priorities for their area and the types of projects they want to see delivered, following a consultation process involving over 13,000 people across the borough.

Projects will need to match the chosen priorities for each area, or the additional priority of supporting Covid-19 recovery.

Once bids have been submitted and reviewed, residents will also help decide which projects they want at their local assembly meetings.

A recommendation will be made to the Mayor and Cabinet for approval, with projects expected to commence from April 1 next year,

Cllr Kim Powell, Cabinet Member for Business and Community Wealth Building, said: “By involving our local communities in decisions around NCIL funding, residents will get a real say on the investment they want to see in their local area and the community projects that will benefit them most.

“It is really important that local residents see the benefits of new developments for their communities and that’s exactly what this funding will help deliver.”

You can find out more information about NCIL ward funding and submit your ideas here.