Cash boost for communities in Babergh and Mid Suffolk

Town and parish councils in Babergh and Mid Suffolk have received more than £648,000 to help community infrastructure keep pace with housing growth, latest figures reveal.

Developers building homes within the districts are charged a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) by the councils with money then reinvested in neighbourhoods via their towns and parish councils.

The latest round of Neighbourhood CIL awards saw 21 town and parish councils in Mid Suffolk receive a share of a £549,000 with 20 of Babergh’s town and parishes receiving a portion of £99,000.

The town and parish councils can decide how to spend this money to best support the development of their local area and meet community needs.

Those areas with successfully adopted neighbourhood plans receive a higher amount of funding.

Sallie Davies, Babergh District Council’s cabinet member for Heritage, Planning and Infrastructure, said: “It is important when people see development in their area, they know there will be funding for local infrastructure too. This funding gives towns and parish councils a much-needed boost, allowing them to invest in local projects.”

And Andrew Stringer, Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet member for Heritage, Planning and Infrastructure, added: “It’s really important that local infrastructure can increase at the same rate as local housing and Neighbourhood CIL is just one of the ways that we are helping our towns and parishes achieve that.”

This round of Neighbourhood CIL is in addition to the £31.5 million of CIL funding which has been allocated in both districts since 2018.

CIL funding can be applied for throughout the year, initial enquiries to be made through the submission of a CIL enquiry form.