New Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) strategic infrastructure funding round opens

Applications are now invited for funding to support strategic infrastructure projects across Cheltenham Borough, Gloucester City and Tewkesbury Borough council areas.    

The ten-week bidding period runs from Monday, 1 June, to Friday, 7 August.      

The funding will support both:  

• Strategic infrastructure projects benefiting all three council areas; and  

• Local strategic infrastructure projects benefitting one or two areas, where these deliver wider community benefits, support new development, and help deliver sustainable growth.     

Councillor Richard Stanley, Chair of the CIL Joint Committee and Leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: “We all know the positive difference infrastructure can make to the lives of our residents, this new funding is an important opportunity for infrastructure providers, partner organisations, and local groups to invest in infrastructure that supports our communities and helps enable sustainable growth.         

“Projects could include health facilities, enhancements to parks and community sports facilities, transport improvements, flood defence initiatives and infrastructure that supports wider community benefits.         

“We are keen to welcome a wide range of strong applications to create a list of projects for the committee to consider and ask applicants to carefully review the funding criteria before submitting their proposals.”        

As of December 2025, around £6.6 million remains available in the unallocated local strategic infrastructure fund. This reflects approximately £4.6 million for Tewkesbury Borough, £1.9 million for Cheltenham Borough and £100,000 for Gloucester City.      

Applications can be submitted for:  

• feasibility funding to establish the scope and cost of a project; or  

• delivery funding where project costs and delivery arrangements are clearly defined. 

Applications must be submitted online and include supporting information, such as project costs, delivery plans, and a climate change assessment, in line with the published guidance.         

Full details, including eligibility criteria and application guidance, are available on the CIL Joint Committee webpage on Tewkesbury Borough Council’s website.         

Following the closing date, all eligible applications will be considered by the Joint Committee, with funding decisions expected later in the year.         

Notes:    

CIL meetings are hosted by Tewkesbury Borough Council.      

Each council must ensure that its CIL receipts are spent on infrastructure to support the development of its own area.      

Funding recommendations by the Joint Committee will be subject to each council’s governance and scrutiny processes. Successful applicants will be required to enter into a legally binding CIL grant agreement before funding is released.    

The continued ringfencing of 25 per cent of paid CIL receipts for local strategic infrastructure projects is not guaranteed and may be subject to future review.   

Availability of the 75 per cent strategic project share is limited; however, applications are invited to generate a pipeline of projects for the CIL Joint Committee to consider in the future.