Extra funding for communities to plan neighbourhoods

The government has announced it is increasing the money available to communities in urban and deprived areas to help plan their local neighbourhoods.

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has today (10 August) confirmed that government grants to individual neighbourhood planning groups in both urban and deprived areas will increase to £18,000.

This follows funding increasing from £9,000 to £10,000 in May to help with the effects of coronavirus.

The government also announced it is providing these groups with access to additional technical expertise free of charge, such as for assessing their area’s housing needs, or developing masterplans.

It follows the government’s announcement last week that it intends to overhaul the planning system, which it claims is ‘sluggish’ and ‘outdated’.

‘The government is overhauling the country’s outdated planning system to deliver the high-quality sustainable homes the country needs,’ said Mr Jenrick.

‘Under the new system local communities will be in the driving seat deciding what is built and where. I want to ensure all communities have a strong voice in this process which is why I am doubling the funding available in some of the most deprived parts of the country to help residents in these areas shape the future of their neighbourhoods.’

The chairman of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), Cllr Sue Baxter added: ‘England’s local (parish & town) councils are at the forefront of neighbourhood planning and make up the vast majority of the 2,600 places using this important tool in the planning system to shape development and housing in their areas.

‘This additional grant funding for disadvantaged communities is particularly welcome and will provide a vital extra boost to help hundreds of areas prepare a plan.

‘NALC would encourage local councils in those areas to use this additional funding to get started on neighbourhood planning to help build back better communities,’ added Cllr Baxter.

Neighbourhood planning groups who wish to seek funding and technical support can do so by applying through Locality’s website – neighbourhoodplanning.org

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