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Second round of funding for community infrastructure approved 

Town and parish councils and not-for-profit community groups in South Oxfordshire will soon be able to bid for a share of £750,000 of funding to improve or deliver new community amenities. 

The Community Infrastructure Levy Grant Fund offers organisations a financial boost of between £75,000 to £250,000 per project for new or expanded facilities, including community centres, sports and cultural facilities, open spaces, play areas, and more, which are needed as a direct result of development. 

This represents the second round of this funding scheme – with a successful pilot running in 2024 in South Oxfordshire. The grant is funded by contributions from developers for building new homes in the district, known as the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). 

At its Cabinet meeting on 27 November, South Oxfordshire District Council members agreed an updated policy and to launch the second round of funding, after the pilot scheme approved funding for five community projects: 

  • Didcot Town Council – Ladygrove Lakes and Mounds, and Millennium Woods: £157,025 
  • Wallingford Sports Trust – All Weather Pitch resurfacing and development of a multi-use games area: £165,000 
  • The Berin Centre – Community Café: £200,000  
  • Goring Parish Council – playground provision: £200,000  
  • Sustrans – Phoenix Trail Cycle Route: £249,998  

The new round of funding is planned to be launched in late January 2026 and remain open for applications for eight weeks, this time with a simplified process.  

Councillor Pieter-Paul Barker, Cabinet Member for Finance at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We’re committed to providing infrastructure that meets local needs and fosters thriving, healthy and inclusive communities, which is why we’re excited to confirm a second round of our programme to invest more funding into our communities. This grant builds on our existing community grant schemes and uses CIL funding we collect from developers to directly invest in projects that benefit growing neighbourhoods.” 

Projects will need to deliver new or expanded physical infrastructure to cater to more residents and weight will also be given to projects that have elements of sustainability, inclusivity and consideration of environmental impacts. 

Cllr Barker added: “The projects from our 2024 pilot scheme, including the now completed community café in Berinsfield and the improvements to the sports pitch in Wallingford, are excellent examples of what can be achieved with this funding. This could be a new playground, expanding your local community centre, or creating a wildflower community eco garden – or something completely different! We look forward to reviewing applications from around the district and seeing these important projects come to life. 

“I encourage all town and parish councils and local not-for-profit groups to make the most of this fantastic funding opportunity and look out for when the application period launches in late January 2026.” 

More information will be available on the Council’s website in January, with guidance documents and information on how to apply.  

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