£100,000 3G pitch grant for local club in latest round of CIL funding
More than £500,000 collected from developers in Mid Suffolk and Babergh is going back to the communities in our districts after councillors approved the latest round of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) bids.
A total of 11 bids are receiving support for community projects – including three £100,000 contributions – which means new play facilities, improvements to health centres, additional pedestrian routes and disability parking spaces and village halls thanks to CIL payments – a legal requirement paid by developers of residential sites across the districts.
One of the largest CIL awards is £100,000 for AFC Sudbury’s new million-pound plans for a 3G pitch and site development at the football club. The award will be used solely for the pitch, but the club’s plans also include new disability parking spaces and a catering unit for use on matchdays and events, subject to planning permission being granted for the scheme of work.
Every six months, the councils consider the bids made for CIL funding, earmarked for projects to help local infrastructure keep pace with development. This latest allocation is the tenth round of CIL funding and brings the total allocation delivered to the districts to more than £13m since May 2018.
Also among the other successful CIL bids this round are two more £100,000 sums, one for an extension and activity room at Stutton village hall and another for new play area improvements on Capel St Mary playing field.
There is also funding for a play area in Haughley and improvements for play equipment in Monks Eleigh, improvements to Stradbroke’s health centre, support for the Hoxne Church Lavatory Project, footpaths at Stowupland’s Trinity Meadows, and upgrades to the Millennium Green at Edwardstone.
Two more decisions were also approved by council officers before the latest round of bids heard at Monday’s cabinet meetings, with renovations to Mendham village hall car park and new fencing for the Kirby Rise Green play area.
Babergh Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Planning, Cllr Clive Arthey, said:
We are delighted to support AFC Sudbury with £100,000 for this latest project – the club is something the town can be very proud of and a new 3G pitch would be a fantastic resource for the teams and the surrounding area.
More than £13m has now been distributed through CIL by Babergh and Mid Suffolk to support our towns and villages with much needed infrastructure improvements.
Additional housing increases the need for facilities and with CIL we are able to provide the funding for projects that can make a real difference to our communities.”
Mid Suffolk cabinet member for Planning, Cllr David Burn, said:
The breadth of applications to this round of CIL funding highlights just how many improvements are being made possible in parishes throughout Mid Suffolk.
Other examples include: making the health centre in Stradbroke more energy-efficient to futureproof it from rising prices; Hoxne getting its first fully accessible public toilet; and adding new footpaths to Stowupland to improve connectivity as more housing is built. Such projects and many others funded by CIL are enhancing the lives of our residents.
We can distribute this funding thanks to the expenditure framework the council regularly reviews, thanks to the comprehensive applications our parishes make, and thanks to the work of our officers who ensure this levy is delivered where our residents need it most.”
3G artificial pitch at AFC Sudbury - £100,000
Among the £100,000 bids are AFC Sudbury’s project to build a new 3G pitch at the club. While the bid is to fund the new pitch, the club’s plans also include additional disability car parking spaces and a new unit for catering purposes. All these additions will ‘futureproof’ the club and keep the ground fit for purpose for years to come.
The club is embedded in both the local and wider communities of Sudbury and the Babergh area. As well as women’s, men’s and youth teams competing in regional leagues, it works closely with local organisations such as The Bridge (who work with adults living with dementia, learning disabilities and mental health issues), local schools and the Active Suffolk Partnership.
The club sees the pitch as an investment in the future of football in the area, accessible to everyone but providing the most benefit to three or four-year-olds who will have this pitch for years to come. It will also be used for students aged 16-25 who are part of the football in the education programme at the club.
Extension to the village hall and new activity room at Stutton - £100,000
The second of this round’s £100,000 awards is for Stutton community hall, which takes another step towards its expansion to keep up with an anticipated increase in demand for space.
The Stutton Community Association is proposing to extend the existing village hall, adding a new activity room and accessible toilet. These changes improve the provision available at the hall and accommodate those who may be moving to the area in developments recently completed and commenced nearby.
The hall is already popular with community groups, with Meet up Mondays, Suffolk Sight, dance classes, chair-based exercise classes and play groups all using it as a venue.
Cllr Mary McLaren, Babergh cabinet member for Communities and Wellbeing, and ward councillor for Stour, said:
"The success of Stutton’s community hall is evidenced through its use by various community groups and the oversight and direction of the Stutton Community Hall Committee. As the village welcomes more residents and even more use is made of the facility, I am very pleased that the CIL funding application for a new activity room and an accessible toilet has been approved.”
Playing field play area improvements in Capel St Mary - £100,000
The last £100,000 bid approved this round is for Capel St Mary’s playing fields. The bid makes up just over half of the £187,916 project cost, and will help deliver a new and improved play area for an expanding community.
The current play equipment on the playing field has become older and out-of-date, so plans to modernise the equipment include revising the layout and design of the equipment. This includes increasing the overall size of the play area and providing more seating for parents and guardians.
Cllr Sue Carpendale, ward councillor for Capel St Mary, said, added:
"Providing this improved equipment and creating a more inviting space for children to stay healthy and active is a fantastic use of this funding. With housing being delivered around the ward, it’s great to see a community-supported scheme get the support it needs through CIL.”
Play area improvements, Haughley Green - £71,000
Haughley Green’s new play area can now progress thanks to the approval of this bid. A pyramid climbing frame, metal combination swing set, new multi-use frame and a new roundabout will all be added to the space, as well as new ground surfacing to keep the play area usable year-round.
The use of sustainable materials will make the equipment easier to maintain and extend its life, and the outdoor space will support the development of children's social and physical skills.
The parish council has consulted the local community on these plans and hopes this has helped produce the most complete plan possible.
Cllr Rachel Eburne, the Green and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Finance, and ward councillor for Haughley, Stowupland and Wetherden, said:
"Play areas like this are very important to provide social spaces for children and families to gather so I am glad to see this equipment coming to Haughley Green.”
Cllr Keith Welham, the Green and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Communities, and fellow ward councillor for Haughley, Stowupland and Wetherden, added:
"It is always good news when community projects such as these receive funding, but providing them longevity with sustainable materials is even better.”
Play area improvements in Monks Eleigh - £51,068.35
The existing playground at Monks Eleigh village hall will benefit from additional play equipment. The plans will add equipment that caters to a wider range of ages so more children can enjoy it.
This proposal is “oven ready” and the applicants have shown the local community support for the additional equipment, with the scheme boosting the village’s leisure and community facilities and encouraging outdoor play for children.
Cllr Bryn Hurren, ward councillor for Box Vale, said:
"This CIL funding makes up more than half of the overall cost of the project, so it is excellent to see this approved. It means another step towards new equipment and improving a really valuable asset for our children and families.”
Health centre improvements, Stradbroke - £29,724
The parish council, as part-owners of the health centre, have sought CIL funding for a multi-phase project of extensions and improvements to the centre and provisions available.
The first phase, which the CIL funding will support, is focused on delivering new solar panels, roof lighting and heat system improvements.
Supported by residents and the Integrated Care System, this first step will reduce the centre’s carbon footprint and improve the experiences of staff and patients.
Cllr Julie Flatman, Mid Suffolk cabinet member for Communities, Health and Wellbeing, and ward councillor for Stradbroke and Laxfield, said:
"Funding approval for this first step is excellent news for everyone that uses the health centre in Stradbroke. These energy efficiency changes will deliver savings and minimise the environmental impact for years to come.”
The Hoxne Church Lavatory Project, Hoxne - £28,090.88
This project will provide the first accessible public toilet facilities in Hoxne, and will be open to the church congregation, residents and visitors to the village.
With the toilet completed, the church hopes to provide more community events and activities throughout the year, and encourage people visiting Hoxne to stay longer and explore the parish.
Footpaths from Trinity Meadows to Trinity Walk, Stowupland - £14,200
In order to connect two new housing developments to the nearby bus stop and complete the parish’s ‘Trim Trail’ footpaths, the district council has agreed to allow access across council-owned land.
This means there is now a direct path from the new homes to the Gipping Road bus stop in the village, which was identified as a short-term priority in the council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)
Cllr Rachel Eburne, the Green and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Finance, and ward councillor for Haughley, Stowupland and Wetherden, said:
"Those moving to our area should be encouraged to use sustainable methods of transport. The addition of this footpath is very welcome.”
Cllr Keith Welham, the Green and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Communities, and fellow ward councillor for Haughley, Stowupland and Wetherden, added:
"I’m pleased that, despite a series of delays, this length of footpath is being constructed. It is the last element in a Trim Trail route around the village, much of which has been provided by Stowupland Parish Council.”
Millennium Green play area equipment improvements, Edwardstone - £11,445.29
This latest CIL funding will provide additional play equipment to Millennium Green, providing greater choice and catering to a broader age range of children visiting the space.
As well as equipment for younger children and a new surface to make the area accessible year-round, the Edwardstone Millennium Green Trust intend to add a metal climbing frame, a tightrope circuit and slides.
Cllr Bryn Hurren, ward councillor for Box Vale, said:
"CIL projects like this make a huge difference to the families in these communities. I’m delighted to see Edwardstone’s play area supported like this and I hope it will be popular with our residents.”
Car park renovations, Mendham - £9,733.81
This is one of two CIL bids approved by officers before Monday’s Mid Suffolk cabinet meeting. Almost £10,000 of funding will go towards repairing and renovating The Street car park, creating at least four more spaces. The surface will also be made more even and safer for pedestrians.
Cllr Lavinia Hadingham, cabinet member for Housing and ward councillor for Fressingfield, said:
"There is very limited off-street parking in Mendham, so these renovations will be a big help to everyone visiting the village. The additional spaces will be useful, but repairs to the surface removing the trip hazards will be even better.”
Play area fencing on Kirby Rise Green, Barham - £3,377.75
This CIL bid for new fencing around the Kirby Rise Green was approved by officers before Monday’s Mid Suffolk cabinet meeting. The play area, which was funded in part by CIL in 2021, will now be made safer and more secure for children, parents and guardians.
Cllr John Whitehead, Mid Suffolk cabinet member for Finance and ward councillor for Claydon and Barham, said:
"This CIL funding makes up 75% of the overall funding for this new fencing, so I am pleased to see it approved by officers and to see this project take another step forwards.”