Date published: 2025-10-15 | Category: Community Funding, Delivering for local residents, Giving people a bigger say
Residents in Bath are being asked for their views on which of sixteen local projects could benefit from a new round of community funding through the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund for Bath.
The shortlisted projects include play facilities, sustainable energy and community hall improvements.
The council has received an unprecedented number of applications for this round of CIL funding, totalling £270,000, which exceeds the total amount of CIL money available.
Votes from residents are important to help the council decide how to prioritise projects in this round and potentially place some projects on a waiting list until further CIL funding becomes available.
The consultation on round 18 of CIL funding is open until November 7 and the projects applying are:
- Installing acoustic panels in the Percy Community Centre Sports Hall to improve sound quality
- Phase Two of Alice Park Play Park to create a dedicated zone for children aged 9 to 14.
- A nature trail and planting at Odd Down Sports Ground
- A multi-use enclosed football cage at Royal Victoria Park
- The final section of the boundary wall restoration at Bath Jewish Burial Ground
- Pedestrian safety improvements at two key junctions in Lambridge and Larkhall
- LED lighting upgrade for The Mission Theatre
- Refurbishment of Moorland Road Community Library
- Improvements to the outdoor learning space at Twerton Community Nursery
- Restoration and reopening of The Old Infants School on Weston High Street as a community centre
- Refurbishment of Riverside Youth Hub and creation of a multi-use games area
- Creation of a green, creative sensory garden for SEND students at Oldfield School
- Installation of solar panels and batteries on three Petra Supportive Housing properties which support young mothers and their babies
- Restoration of the historic reservoir entrances in Sydney Gardens
- Creation of an accessible studio theatre, Venue Four, as a community engagement hub
- Year Two of the three-year Water my Plot allotment infrastructure project
Councillor Kevin Guy, Council Leader, said: “Projects like these have a positive and lasting impact on our communities and it’s wonderful to see a wide variety of applications coming forward for the latest round of CIL funding. I encourage residents to take a moment to review the shortlist and share your views - your input helps ensure that funding goes where it will make the greatest difference.”
CIL is a planning charge payable on new building developments to be spent on projects that benefit the community. Because Bath has no parish or town councils as the North East Somerset area does, the council allocates the funds.
From the overall CIL that is collected, 15% is allocated to the Neighbourhood Portion of CIL for Bath. To date, the Neighbourhood Portion of CIL for Bath has allocated more than £2.57m to local projects.
Outside of Bath, parish and town councils directly receive and distribute 15% of the levy unless they have a Neighbourhood Plan in place, in which case they receive 25% of the levy. More than £1.98m in CIL payments have been made outside of Bath since 2015.
The consultation is open until 5pm on Friday, November 7 and can be responded to online. Anyone who needs the information in another format should email connecting_communities@bathnes.gov.uk or call 01225 396 975.
ENDS