A total of £20.456m has been earmarked for community improvement projects in Tower Hamlets up to 2026, following a review of the council’s developer funding arrangements.
Tower Hamlets Council has approved changes to the way it allocates money collected from developers who are building in the borough. This money, called the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL), is used to pay for local projects that benefit the community and lessen any issues related to development.
The new approach will see most of the funds collected from developers made directly available to local people to use to deliver projects for their community, as well as supporting the development of each neighbourhood area through key local infrastructure and affordable housing projects.
The Council carried out a review of the funding arrangements. A number of changes were agreed at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 21 June 2023, establishing the following approaches:
- £12m to deliver the Councils Community Grants Programme, putting control in the hands of local people and ensuring the whole community benefits from the delivery of new development.
- A Capital Infrastructure Pot, to deliver local infrastructure that will match the local communities' priorities identified for each neighbourhood area through the Annual Residents Survey, supporting those impacted by new development.
- An Affordable Housing Pot, to deliver new affordable housing, ensuring that development delivers for all local people and supports the Councils ambition to deliver 4,000 affordable homes.
Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“Local people can reap the rewards of regeneration in their area through developer contributions. We are committed to spending this money wisely on the projects that will have the greatest impact and benefits for our residents.
“We’ve made these changes to the way we allocate this funding to better align with the council’s strategic priorities and through the Community Grants Programme, put local people’s priorities at the heart of what is funded. This means the money is going where it’s needed most.”
According to the last Annual Residents’ Survey in 2021, the top three concerns out of a list of 15 were crime and anti-social behaviour, lack of affordable housing, and litter in the streets. The council will consider the outcomes of the updated Annual Residents Survey due to be completed this summer and ensure that spend continues to deliver to support residents and council ambitions.
Find out more at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ncil
Posted on Thursday 29th June 2023