Communities across Bath and the surrounding area have benefitted from more than £6 million of funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 agreements over the past year.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has published a list of the various projects that have received funding from the schemes, which include expanding schools and improving security in the city.
Housing developers are charged a levy to support the local community, including improvements for schools, transport links, open spaces and recreational facilities.
During 2019/20, B&NES Council received £4.5 million from the Community Infrastructure Levy. An additional £1.6 million was also received from Section 106 agreements, which are made as part of the planning process and designed to reduce the impact of a scheme on the community.
Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Housing Planning and Economic Development, said: “We were one of the first local planning authorities to introduce CIL in 2015 and over the years local communities right across Bath and North East Somerset have benefitted from millions of pounds of investment in hundreds of projects.
“This year was no exception and we’ve delivered dozens of projects, including improvements to the Bathwick towpath and Keynsham’s High Street, to the expansion of St Nicholas Primary School, Radstock and a feasibility study into the Temple Cloud Farrington Gurney Air Quality Management Area.
“All these projects are carefully planned to not only support new development but also to improve the lives of residents in the area.”
CIL funded projects during 2019/20 included:
- £370,000 – Ralph Allen Secondary School expansion
- £350,000 – Peasedown St John School expansion
- £150,000 – Keynsham High Street Project
- £250,000 – Keynsham Leisure Centre refurbishment
- £100,000 – City centre security, Bath
Section 106 funded projects during 2019/20 included:
- £208,000 – Pedestrian highway improvements
- £308,000 – Bus services
- £1.8m – Keynsham East new primary school
- £250,000 – Midsomer Norton Town Park Phase 2
- £47,000 – Westhill Recreation Ground Outdoor Gym and Exercise Track
- £91,000 – Somer Valley Enterprise Zone Business Development
- £21,000 – Youth connect Services
A portion of CIL funding is also distributed to town and parish councils. Last year they received a total of £390,000 and Bath received £307,000.
