Tewkesbury Borough Council is allocating a pot of funding totalling £804,251 to three community projects in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham and Gloucester, following a decision made at a joint meeting.
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allows local authorities to set charges on new developments to raise funds for the provision, improvement, operation and/or maintenance of infrastructure – such as public green spaces and transport improvements – needed to support new homes and businesses.
The current pot of money comes from CIL payments collected across three council areas between January 2019 and February 2025.
The meeting focused on projects submitted during a funding round from November 2024 to January 2025, that are believed will 'bring real improvements' to the relevant areas.
The council is allocating £120,000 to support the progress of design and costs for replacing the Legion Footbridge over the River Swilgate in Tewkesbury.
In the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury area, a project creating a shared waste and recycling depot for the two authorities receives a boost of £150,000 to update feasibility work – with the funding being provided equally from CIL receipts received by both Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council.
And £534,251 is going towards supporting Phase Two of the Blackbridge Community Sports Hub in Podsmead, with plans to deliver improvements to the grass pitches, sustainable drainage and landscaping – with £472,006 from CIL receipts received by Gloucester City Council and £62,245 received by Tewkesbury Borough Council.
Leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council and chair of the Joint CIL Committee, councillor Richard Stanley, said: 'These investments reflect a strong commitment to local infrastructure and long-term community wellbeing.
'The [Legion] footbridge is a popular route for many of our residents – particularly during periods of flooding – and we’re keen to push forward with plans to rebuild it.'
Councillor Rowena Hay, leader of Cheltenham Borough Council, added: 'This allocation builds upon the allocation made by the CIL Joint Committee in March this year of over £13 million, demonstrating our collective commitment to investing in infrastructure that will make a real difference to our communities.'
Cabinet member for planning at Gloucester City Council, councillor Sarah Sawyer, concluded: 'The Blackbridge Community Sports Hub is a state-of-the-art facility, which will bring huge benefits to Podsmead and will open up many more opportunities, especially for young people.
'This funding will be a huge boost to the project and is testament to how working together with our partners can bring benefits to all our local communities.'
