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Inclusive Play and Open Spaces CIL Fund
The East Cambridgeshire Inclusive Play and Open Spaces CIL Grant Scheme has been set up to provide capital funding towards projects that ensure playgrounds are accessible to children of all abilities.
What types of projects are eligible
CIL regulations state that funds must be spent on ‘infrastructure necessary to support growth’.
Projects should either provide new facilities or create additional capacity at existing playgrounds and open spaces to meet the needs necessary to support growth of the community.
What isn’t eligible
- projects relating to play facilities and open spaces which do not include upgrades to aid accessibility, CIL funding applications for these projects should be made via the CIL Expression of Interest form
- projects not related to growth
- minor repairs, maintenance, redecoration, fencing and movable equipment items
- routine operating costs or other revenue expenditure
- projects on which work has already commenced
- infrastructure located outside East Cambridgeshire, even if used by East Cambridgeshire residents
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for CIL funding a project must satisfy the criteria below:
- project is necessary to support growth and complies with CIL regulations
- the funding requested is for capital expenditure
- the applicant organisation meets the published eligibility criteria
- the project is located in East Cambridgeshire
- the play area/open space has been subject to an inclusive play audit or needs assessment
- the application complies with Subsidy Allowance Legislation
- a minimum of 10% match funding has been secured
- projects must be completed by March 2028
Scoring Criteria
Proposed projects will be assessed on the following criteria:
- evidence that the project is necessary to support local growth
- evidence that an inclusive play audit or needs assessment has been carried out
- the benefits provided by the project
- evidence of local resident and stakeholder involvement in and support for the project
- the level of match funding that the project has been secured
- commitment to Net Zero Carbon and a green approach, demonstrating the highest possible quality standards in terms of design, materials, workmanship and environment in its delivery in order to achieve sustainability
- the ability of the applicant to deliver the expected benefits on time and within budget.
How to apply
The fund will open for applications from 13 April 2026 and applications can be made at any time.
Applicants will be required to complete an application form and submit supporting evidence. A minimum of 10% match funding is required.
The amount of grant awarded will be relative to the level of growth in the parish/town/city.
Applicant organisations must have a constitution, or set of rules, which define its aims, objectives and operational and governance procedures.
If the project meets the stated criteria and scores 50% or over of the total available points, a recommendation to fund that project will be presented to the Council’s Finance and Assets Committee, who meet in June, September, November, January and March each year.
Any grants awarded are subject to the following general conditions (full grant conditions will be issued at the point of award):
Grants may only be used for the purposes specified in the application and otherwise as agreed in writing by ECDC.
The Council must be advised of any underspend against those purposes, and the award may be adjusted accordingly.
The grant will not be increased in the case of any over-spend, miscalculation of VAT or other tax liabilities, or addition to the original project; unless made as a condition of grant or with prior agreement in writing. In the event that VAT is recoverable in excess of that identified in the application, ECDC must be advised and the award may be adjusted accordingly.
The balance of funding required for a project, and all necessary statutory or legal permissions, must be in place before commencement and before any grant funds are claimed from ECDC. Written documentary evidence must be submitted to the ECDC to confirm this.
Details of the procurement process, specifications and costs should be notified to ECDC prior to commencement of works or purchase as appropriate. All works and equipment must be appropriately procured and be certifiably fit for purpose, and approval to proceed may be withheld by ECDC where there are reasonable concerns that this is not the case.
Organisations in receipt of ECDC grant support may not transfer, assign, grant or dispose of any freehold or leasehold interest in any part of the facilities for which support has been provided; and will not sub-contract or otherwise delegate the operation of the facilities (either in whole or in part) to any third party, unless ECDC has given its prior written consent.
In the event that the facility ceases to operate for community use, or the organisation is dissolved, the facility and assets supported by the grant may be transferred into the control of another organisation with similar aims and objectives, with the prior written consent of ECDC.
ECDC may request relevant follow-up information in order to understand and evaluate the impact of the grant funding, and organisations in receipt of grant funds will be expected to fully cooperate in the provision of such information.
Publicity relating to a supported project will be expected to give appropriate recognition to ECDC for its support; the nature of such recognition may vary from case to case and may be agreed with officers at the time.
A full financial account for the project, with all relevant supporting documentation, must be provided to ECDC on completion
Where appropriate, organisations will be asked to confirm that receipt of a grant will not infringe subsidy allowance regulations.
CIL Inclusive Play and Open Spaces fund form
Potential sources of match funding
Please find links below to the Council’s grants and funding webpages, which include eligibility criteria.
Community Fund - The aim of this small community grants scheme is to support local community groups to provide new or develop existing community services and initiatives that improve the quality of life for residents living in EastCambridgeshire
Section 106 Grants - Developer contributions, also known as 'Section 106 contributions', are paid to the council by developers to help fund the cost of new community and social infrastructure needed when new housing developments are built.
Facilities Improvement Grants - The aim of the Facilities Improvement Grant is to develop and improve community facilities which improve the quality of life for people in East Cambridgeshire.
Whilst the Council does not hold a list of external grants, it provides funding to Voluntary and Community Action East Cambs (VCAEC) to assist local groups with funding searches, therefore VCAEC may be able to help you find funding.
The Support Cambridgeshire funding portal: Find funding - Support Cambridgeshire contains information on a wide range of funding pots for local organisations.
Other grant schemes
The Thalia WB Community Fund offers financial assistance to local not-for-profit organisations that deliver benefits to the general public, biodiversity or the environment, within a 10-mile radius of a landfill site.
The Biffa Award supports a wide range of community and environmental projects across the UK.
The Big Lottery Fund awards grants to UK organisations to help improve their communities.
FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that helps benefit the lives of people who live close to landfill sites by awarding grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects.