Residents, organisations and local community groups within Reigate and Banstead  Borough Council are being encouraged to submit bids for a share of money raised from new developments to spend on projects to improve their local area.

Previous successful schemes have ranged from improving a community hall or sports pavilion, to installing planters in local shopping parades, or upgrading walking and cycling routes to local shops and schools.

The money comes from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a charge on developments collected by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council to contribute towards facilities and services needed to support them.

While most of the money is used to fund essential infrastructure and facilities – like schools, healthcare and transport – a proportion, known as the CIL Local Fund, is made available to spend on smaller local projects in the neighbourhoods where development has been built.

Since the Council launched its CIL scheme in 2016, it has collected over £3.4 million Local Fund developer contributions and allocated over £3 million to over 230 projects.

Final chance to apply

This is the last time that Reigate & Banstead Borough Council will run this funding process. From April 2027, the Council will be dissolved and replaced by the new East Surrey Council, which will be responsible for delivering local infrastructure projects across the geographic areas of Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge.

Cllr Kate Fairhurst, Executive Member for Place, Planning and Regulatory Services, explains: “Our CIL Local Fund gives communities an opportunity to influence how money we collect from developers is spent to improve and enhance the facilities and services in their neighbourhood, making sure that we all feel the benefits that new development can bring.

“We are proud that the Fund has already helped to deliver a huge range of successful local projects to improve the quality of life for residents across the borough and make a meaningful difference to communities.

“With only two more opportunities for this Council to assess bids for the Local Fund, in autumn and winter, this is a final call to submit your ideas for a share of the fund. So, if you have a project that needs funding to make it a reality, be sure to apply.”

Bids will be assessed by a panel of councillors and officers against the Council’s CIL spending priorities, which were set following previous community feedback, subject to available funds.

More information

For all the information and to submit a bid visit the Local Fund webpage.

If you need a paper application form, please contact the Planning Policy team at [email protected] or call 01737 276 178.