CIL Funded Projects – Hampshire
Detailed here are a selection of some of the projects based in Hampshire that have been funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
This is not an exhaustive list and as such this page will be updated on a regular basis as new projects are delivered.
For further information on CIL funded projects not listed please contact cil@southdowns.gov.uk.
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- Buriton Village Hall
Buriton Parish Council was awarded £50,000 in CIL funding for energy efficiency
enhancements to Buriton Village Hall.The project has included the installation of over ninety 450W solar panels, additional roof insulation, battery storage, an infra-red heating system, two EV charging points and improved lighting controls.
An earlier phase was undertaken and funded by the Parish Council in 2022 which involved replacing all windows and doors with new double-glazed units, as well as checking the adequacy of wall insulation.
The project has met the aims of the initial Energy Audit Report and should now yield reduced energy, running costs and carbon footprint.
- Changing Places Toilet – Petersfield Town Centre
East Hampshire District Council were awarded £45,000 in CIL funds to deliver a new Changing Places Toilet in the centre of Petersfield.
The outcome of the project was that people with disabilities and their carers, families and friends will be able to visit Petersfield and the surrounding area either for shopping, meeting friends for a day out safe in the knowledge that there is a CPT nearby that meets their needs.
Since it has opened the Changing Places toilet has been well used. Please see the EHDC press release below with comments from Treloars students and carers about the difference the facility will make to their ability to visit Petersfield and the surrounding area.
- Droxford Junior School – new play and outdoor education facilities
Droxford Junior School were awarded £37,563.85 in CIL funding for the schools landscape strategy for learning and play.
The projects aims were to provide new play and outdoor education facilities. The project has developed the boundaries of the school field and the site for learning and play. The funds have been spent on an outdoor classroom and amphitheatre, a new trim trail, low ropes and den building area, along with planting of pollinating plants.
Droxford Junior School is also an ambassador school for the South Downs National Park and they are instrumental in helping other schools engage with outdoor education by hosting a collaboration workshop which over 35 schools attended. This CIL funded project was also the main case study in the 2023 Bloomsbury published book ‘The sustainability and Climate change curriculum’.
- Farringdon Village Highway Improvement Scheme
Farringdon Parish Council, in collaboration with Hampshire County Council
Highways were awarded just over £11,000 for public realm improvements within the village.Works undertaken have improved the visual presence in the village, removed redundant signs and added new required signs for residents and visitors.
The parish have welcomed the changes and are now planning to further enhance the work with Village gateways.
- Froxfield and Privett Village Highway Improvement Scheme
Froxfield & Privett Parish Council, in collaboration with Hampshire County
Council Highways were awarded £10,000 for public realm improvements within the village.Works undertaken have improved the visual presence of the area by removing redundant signing whilst adding new essential signing, village gateways and markings for road users, residents and visitors to the village.
The parish have welcomed the changes and are considering further enhancement work with other village improvements.
- Greatham Village Hall Recreation Ground
Greatham Parish Council were awarded £90,000 in CIL funding for the creation of
all inclusive, accessible playground at Greatham Village Hall.The final playground design included accessible equipment and catered for ages from pre-school right up to 15+.
Multiple items that are specifically designed to be fully accessible have been incorporated in the design, including a wheelchair accessible roundabout, accessible swings and sensory panels. The surfacing and paths ensure the whole play area is accessible for wheelchair users or parents with prams and includes access directly off the tarmac car park.
The playground has become a focal point for the village, which has enabled those with and without gardens to meet and socialise and allow play for 2-3 hours with picnics. Families are also visiting from the surrounding villages to make use of the facility.
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust St Catherine’s Hill Steps
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust were awarded £114,650 in CIL funds for the replacement of the visitor access steps at St Catherine’s Hill, to allow continued, safe access to visitors to the top of the iron age hillfort and nature reserve.
The old steps had reached the end of their lifespan and replacing them will help prevent people going ‘off track’ which leads to erosion of the delicate chalk downland habitat, which was showing signs of scarring, and protects the important archaeological and wildlife site.
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Winnall Moors Boardwalk
£150,000 in CIL funding was awarded to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust for the replacement of the boardwalk at Winnall Moor nature reserve, which is a highly frequented Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the outskirts of Winchester.
The previous ‘long’ boardwalk, installed in 2008, spans approximately 230m and featured passing places, and the ‘shortcut’ boardwalk measured 50m in length and winds through the fen habitat to enhance visitors’ sensory access and amplify their enjoyment of the diverse species present. Increased footfall and the natural aging process had taken their toll on the existing boardwalks which, at 15 years old, were showing signs of rot in the wet/dry environment. Without intervention the boardwalk will have to be dismantled, limiting community access to one-third of the site.
The boardwalks at Winnall Moors have now been replaced with new, durable structures that restore safe public access through the fen habitat. This meets the core objective of preventing route closure and maintaining the full circular walk around the reserve. The new boardwalks also improve accessibility for visitors, ensuring continued inclusive access to this highly valued SSSI.
- Improvements to MUGA, East Meon
East Meon Parish Council were awarded £7,500 in CIL funding to help rejuvenate
the existing community Multi Use Games Area (MUGA).The project was to remove the old surface and lay a replacement, then re-paint tennis lines, basketball lines and 5-a-side football lines.
The project was completed in August 2023 and the local community have commented on the improvement in the playing surface. The court is now regularly booked by all members of the community.
- Liss Forest Recreation Ground Improvements
Liss Parish Council were awarded £40,000 in CIL funding to help rejuvenate the Play Area at Liss Forest Recreation Ground.
The Parish Council recently invested just over £25,000 on a replacement multi-play unit in the Liss Forest children’s play area which was in much need of upgrade. This left several other items in need of replacement:
The SDNPA CIL award allowed for the replacement of the toddler swing set, junior swing set, plus an additional bay to the junior swings for a cradle swing, springer and roundabout, and the safety surfacing was extended to link the equipment and make the area much more user friendly (and less muddy!).
The result is that Liss Forest now has a modern and attractive play area with even greater play value and which is more accessible to users.
- Liss Triangle Community Centre
The Triangle Centre in Liss was awarded £24,275 in CIL funding to improve the facilities by providing a new covered area, lighting, and other essential maintenance.
£18,275 was spent on two new canopies, one at the front door and one at the side annexe. The covered area to the front of the building was to provide shelter from the elements for the sometimes congested front lobby area. It will also provide a dry space for visitors to leave pushchairs when visiting the centre The side entrance canopy was to provide cover for the parents that drop off and collect from the resident nursery.
The remaining funds were spent on repairing the front of the building. The works included replacing a lintel above a window and repairing the wall of the front of the building which needed wall ties, then plastering and redecoration.
- Liss Upstream Natural Flood Management Project
Western Sussex Rivers Trust, formerly the Arun & Rother Rivers Trust, were awarded £25,000 in CIL funding in 2019. The trust identified a number of areas in the upper Rother catchment where trees and hedgerows would help to slow surface water flow, reducing risk of flooding downstream.
The project delivered three phases as follows:
Phase 1 (Winter 21-22) – sites in Petersfield and Hawkley:
1010m of hedgerow (5 species mix) to restore a hedgerow on a hillside above the River Rother, linking a woodland to an existing mature hedgerow, and incorporating a line of mature oak trees which were once part of the original hedgerow.Phase 2 (Feb 2024) – site in Empshott
750m of hedgerow comprising 4600 hedging trees (10 species mix), 75 Oaks and 19 Sussex Black Poplars.Phase 3 (August 2024) – site in Empshott:
Six scrapes and ponds created to interrupt overland flows as well as providing rich habitat.Read more here: ARRT volunteers help plant 750m of hedgerow · Western Sussex Rivers Trust.
- Liss Village Hall Refurbishment (Toilets)
Liss Parish Council were awarded £15,000 in CIL funding for improvements to the toilet facilities at Liss Village Hall.
The works included replacement flooring and tiling, redecoration, the addition of a baby change unit and additional wash basins. The old flush system was replaced with a modern system which uses approximately half the amount of water and the lighting was adapted to LED.
- Meon Valley Trail – Wickham Springs
Hampshire County Council was awarded £35,000 in CIL funding to upgrade and improve the current drainage system to better cope with water run-off from the springs, especially during surges, at the Wickham end of the Meon Valley Trail.
Phase one of the project upgraded and improved the drainage system and created ‘culvert channel’ to focus the spring water into this system to alleviate the issues experienced.
These works partially solved the problem, but further works were required. A section of resurfacing was subsequently carried out to repair the damage caused and to improve the access amenity.
- Meonstoke C of E Infant School
Meonstoke C of E Infant School were awarded £18,000 in CIL funding to improve a wooded area and bark pathways within the school grounds.
The projects aims were to provide year round access to outside play, exercise and learning.The project has provided:
• Improved wooded pathways around the edge of the site
• Wellie boot storage
• Installation of a covered outside learning area
• Installation of a bird watching station and bug house
• Fencing and gateway to cordon off safe dry outside areas enabling safe outdoor activities for longer periods of the year
- Petersfield Kings Arms Youth Project
The Kings Arms Youth Centre were given £15,000 of CIL funding to refurbish the
kitchen in their new permanent base in Petersfield.The Kings Arms Youth Centre have been supporting young people through their extensive support programs and after school activities. The programs are designed to help support young people to feel positive about themselves, and their futures. The new kitchen has given the centre a fresh and safe space for young people to relax and support one another.
- Petersfield Open Air Swimming Pool
£50,000 in CIL funding has been spent at Petersfield Open Air Swimming Pool to upgrade the facilities for all visitors, thereby significantly improving the customer experience.
The toilets, shower blocks, changing cubicles, disabled unit and roofing structure have all been fully refurbished to a very high standard and completed in time for the 2024 opening season.
Local contractors updated the plumbing, electrics and hot water storage to save energy, reduce water consumption and simplify ongoing maintenance. They were also able to install new sanitary ware, tiles, taps, mirror and showers in all toilets using donated and grant-funded materials.On 20 June 2024 POASP were awarded the Petersfield Society Annual Owl Award for the refurbishment.
- Petersfield Rugby Club
£40,000 in CIL funding has been spent at Petersfield Rugby Club on their Green Energy Initiative project which aims to provide renewable energy to the facility to reduce the energy costs associated with electricity and hot water generation, to ensure that the club can continue financially.
Solar panels were identified as the best option and were installed in Spring 2024. The Solar panels have generated 30-40KW of power through daylight hours, covering the running of the Clubhouse. In addition, the cost of grid electricity to the Club has halved. In the Winter the excess electricity generated is used to heat water, consequently less gas is required to heat water for showers etc.
- QECP – Bike Base – Cycle hubs
Hampshire County Council were awarded £50,000 in CIL funding to be spent at Queen Elizabeth Country Park for their Bike Base project.
The projects aim was to make QECP a key cycling destination in the National Park. The project has built on QECP’s growing reputation for mountain biking and as a stopping point along the South Downs Way for cyclists. It has improved facilities and infrastructure for all cycling activities.
The improvements include a mini wheels track, mini wheels skills area, MTB skills and coaching area and a new lite blue MTB trail. There are also improvements to a former work depot to provide a base for an E-Bike hire business.
The tracks and trails were all completed by May 2023.
QECP worked closely with the bike volunteer group, QE Trail Collective, as well as the wider cycling community, MTB coaches, and representatives from British Cycling. All were involved in ongoing consultation and development of the project including the design of the tracks. The QE Trail Collective designed and constructed the new Lite Blue Trail.
A representative from QECP says “It’s good to see children on their bikes whizzing around the tracks and both the skills and coaching area are being well used. The designs sit well in the different areas and provide lots of opportunities for developing skills.”
- QECP – Changing Places facility
£70,000 in CIL funding was awarded to Hampshire County Council to provide a Changing Places facility and adjacent welfare unit with shower block and changing rooms at Queen Elizabeth Country Park.
HCC already has Changing Places at their other country parks, and they have good links with the user groups that champion these facilities. Both visitors and local councillors were keen to see these facilities at all HCC country parks. There were previously limited facilities for those taking part in physical activities at the park and the new shower block and changing rooms will be an invaluable welfare space for all visitors.
The project is now completed and has provided a Changing Places unit which has broadened access for disabled visitors. The project has also provided improved facilities that will benefit a wider section of park visitor’s especially younger people.
- QECP – Improvements to South Downs Way
Hampshire County Council were awarded £60,000 in CIL funding to be spent at Queen Elizabeth Country Park for improvements to a 600 metre section of the South Downs Way located in Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Visitors to QECP are fortunate in having the South Downs Way passing through. Many of those who use it include keen walkers, mountain bikers, runners, and riders. Alongside these avid users are those who may be less mobile, out for a stroll or exploring the National Park for the first time.
The South Downs Way was in a poor condition, very difficult to walk and hazardous to ride. The project aims were to significantly improve this section of the National Trail and make it more accessible for all. The section to be improved leads from the Halls Hill car park (Buriton) back into the park for 600m and includes a significant change in elevation (approx. 50m). Much of the top surfacing layer has been worn or washed away with large chunks of brick and rock protruding. The improvements included grading the route, reinstating the subbase, adding a wearing course, and installing suitable drainage.
The surfacing work has now been completed, including extensive works to manage the surface water run off on this steep path. This has made the path safe to use by walkers and cyclists and also now useable for horse riders and visitors using the park Trampers.
- QECP – Ponds, Bugs and Kids
Hampshire County Council were awarded £50,000 in CIL funding to be spent at Queen Elizabeth Country Park for the restoration of an existing pond and the creation of a fully accessible facility that the education team can use to provide nature activities for school groups and other interested parties
The works included the replacement of the pond liner, installation of fencing and a dipping platform and the removal of invasive plants. The new interpretation provides lots of information for visitors on the importance of ponds and the different wildlife that inhabit them. As wildlife returns to the pond and the new planting becomes more established the benefits to the surrounding environment will only increase.
- Selborne Village Highway Improvement Scheme
Selborne Parish Council, in collaboration with Hampshire County Council
Highways were awarded £10,000 for public realm improvements within the village.Works undertaken have improved the visual presence of the village by removing redundant signing whilst adding new essential signs, advanced gateway features and speed roundel markings for road users and residents.
The parish have welcomed the changes and are considering further enhancement work with other village improvements.
- South Downs Way – Winchester Route Improvements
£61,000 in CIL funding has created a new 750metre, multi-user, off road route to accommodate the South Downs Way National Trail. The new route gives users a much safer, wider and more enjoyable route away from the carriage way edge of the A31.
The before and after photos below show the difference the works have made to the trail.
Before 
After - Stroud Village Highway Improvement Scheme
Stroud Parish Council, in collaboration with Hampshire County Council Highways were awarded £20,000 for public realm improvements on the A272 in Stroud.
Improvements undertaken included gateway feature fencing, new village signs and rationalisation of existing signs, removal of central white lines, new pedestrian crossing point facility serving existing bus stops and helping with safe routes to school and removable speed reduction posts/ground sockets for Speed Indicator Device sites.The works began in Autumn 2021 and took around 6 months to complete.
- Sustainability Centre ‘Ready, Steady, Grow’ project
£100,000 in CIL funding has been spent at the Sustainability Centre in Droxford
for their ‘Ready, Steady, Grow’ project.The project has transformed a derelict former MOD building to the South Downs Eco Lodge as an enabler to expanding facilities and services (sustainable education, eco-tourism, residential courses) and creating a new learning programme about eco-retrofitting and demonstrating a practical response to taking action at a local level to address the climate emergency.
The CIL funding was for the second phase of the project, which sees the transformation of the former medical block into a Learning Hub, with additional public and learning spaces.
Works to the roof of the new Learning Hub, to make the building water tight and well insulated and the replacement of the existing windows of the building with new triple glazed windows, to support the eco-retrofit of the building is now complete. A representative said “The triple glazed replacement windows have transformed what the building looks like, the quality of the indoor office spaces and the building energy performance.”
- Twyford Community Centre Refurbishment
Twyford Community Centre CIC was set up in March 2021 to purchase the Twyford Social Club site and building. They were awarded £20,000 in CIL funding in 2023 for their refurbishment project.
The project’s aim was to bring a purpose built and well-established Community Building into wider use and make it available to all sections of the community. The leaking roof was repaired, the kitchen upgraded and further phases include asbestos removal, carpet replacement and redecoration.
- Twyford Hunter Park Basketball Court & Pavilion Refurbishment
Twyford Parish Council were awarded over £17,000 in CIL funding for two projects at Hunter Park in Twyford.
£5,000 in CIL funds were provided for repairs and renovations to the existing Pavilion at Hunter Park to upgrade the heating and lighting facilities, upgrade the showers, paint the exterior and other improvement works.
£12,700 was also awarded for the refurbishment of the underutilised basketball court and its transformation in to a multi game area with traverse wall and climbing stack.
- West Liss Recreation Ground
Liss Parish Council were awarded £50,000 in CIL funding to help rejuvenate the Play Area at West Liss Recreation Ground.
The equipment in the existing children’s play area was out of date and much has been deemed unsafe and removed. The design of the new play area was chosen following a consultation with the local community and includes a natural Robinia design, intended to fit within a rural setting in the SDNPA whilst providing a high quality play area that local children and parents/ carers have asked for and have been directly involved in shaping.
The works were completed in August 2022 and the play area is now being enjoyed by the local community.
Before 
After
- Buriton Village Hall
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