Funding for neighbourhood schemes

Residents and community groups can apply for funding to improve their neighbourhoods as the fifth round of the Wandsworth Local Fund (WLF) opens for applications (November 17th).As investors flock to the Brighter Borough, recent regeneration and building schemes have meant that millions of pounds have been raised to carry out the improvements in line with the priorities local people asked for, with an increase in income in all borough neighbourhoods in 2017. Applications for wave five funding are welcome until this wave of funding closes at the end of January 2018.The Wandsworth Local Fund (WLF) is a charge the council makes on developers which is used to provide infrastructure for the local area, such as safer roads or improvements to parks. Residents are encouraged to bring ideas for neighbourhood improvements to their ward councillors to submit schemes to be considered for funding.The Wandsworth Local Fund is also known as the neighbourhood element of the Community Infrastructure Levy (Neighbourhood CIL). CIL is mostly spent on borough-wide, ‘strategic’ projects, but 15 per cent is earmarked for projects which take into account the views of people living in the neighbourhood where new development has been built. The amount available will vary between different neighbourhoods depending on the amount of development taking place.So far around £11m has been raised for local neighbourhoods in this way and several projects have gone ahead as a result, including resurfacing roads and pavements in Putney Vale, improvements to the playgrounds in Leader’s Gardens, Upper Tooting Park and King George’s Park, improving and floodlighting the tennis courts in King George’s Park and streetscape and lighting improvements in Culvert Road Alleyway. Improvements to the Swaby Gardens playground are almost complete.The following schemes have been recommended for funding and will start over the coming months:-Improvement to the Dover House Road parade in Putney-Improvements to Lavender Hill-Improvements to playgrounds including St Mark’s and Chivalry Road on Wandsworth Common and Windmill Gardens-The refurbishment of Fred Wells Gardens in Battersea-Improvements to Battersea Park-An upgrade of Putney Park Lane-An upgrade of the public realm in Southfields-Renovation work at Battersea Arts Centre-The refurbishment of the safety surface and play equipment in Garrett Park-A new path and work to the trees in Leaders Gardens-Streetscape improvements in Aslett Enclave-Repaving and resurfacing Lydden Twilley-Work being carried out in partnership with the Wandle Valley Regional Park, Sustrans and Groundwork London to improve the Trewint and Summerley Street area, including rain gardens and new bridge railings.