COMMUNITIES across Bromsgrove are set to receive a share of nearly £170,000 in public funding after the latest allocations of New Homes Bonus (NHB) money were announced.
At last week’s Bromsgrove District Council Cabinet meeting, it was agreed £169,157, including unspent money brought forward from last year, would be made available to community groups across the district during 2017.
Groups in areas including Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Catshill, Hagley, Rock Hill, Sidemoor and Wythall can bid for up to £2,880 each for smaller projects and up to £28,800 each for larger ones, with proof needed that the projects will bring longer-term sustainable benefits to the community.
Peter Rowbottom, of Hagley Residents Action Group, said: “This is now the third successive year that NHB money has been made available by the council to communities across the district, with this year’s allocation taking the total amount over the three years to £330,000.”
The formal application process for the money will open on May 8 and close on June 16. Final decisions on which projects will benefit will be decided by Bromsgrove Council soon after.
Bromsgrove District Councillor for Hagley East, Rachel Jenkins, said: “Last year’s New Homes Bonus Scheme saw specific amounts allocated to each ward area based on the percentage of new homes in that specific ward.
“The scheme has changed slightly this year, in that there is an overall district pot so any area in Bromsgrove district can apply for the NHB as long as they can prove that they have had some new housing in their area.
“I welcome the greater importance placed on local councillors’ involvement in the application process and I would encourage any groups looking for funding to apply for the NHB money via the formal bid process.”
