CIL-funded Projects

CIL-funded Projects

Detailed here are a selection of some of the projects 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

• Goodwood Seeley Copse Education Centre

  The Goodwood Education Trust welcomes over 3,000 children each year to Seeley Copse for educational visits. The Trust give the opportunity for children to immerse themselves in the countryside and learn about where their food comes from and understand how the natural environment plays a part in it.

  The previous education facility was inadequate, with insufficient space for wet weather activities, and unsuitable access for disabled students and visitors.

  Goodwood Education Trust received a £40,000 CIL grant towards a new purpose built Education Centre at Seeley Copse. 

  The new facility will provide much needed wet weather learning space, unisex toilets and a kitchen, all fully accessible for disabled users. The enhanced education centre can facilitate year round outside the classroom learning, with space for up to 80 children inside. Additional activities such as crafts, scientific exploration, and cooking, all using local produce, are able to be added to the existing program, expanding understanding and knowledge about the natural environment.

• Egrets Way

  The overall objective of the Egrets Way network is to provide safe, sustainable access to the towns, villages, services and amenities of the Lower Ouse Valley for everyday use and for the purposes of encouraging tourism, the local economy and health and well-being.

  

  CIL funding was granted to contribute to the delivery of Phase 4 of the Egrets Way network of shared-use cycle paths in the Lower Ouse Valley between Lewes and Newhaven.

  

  The newly refurbished 950m section boasts a 2.5m width surfaced path suitable for walkers, disabled users and cyclists. New accessible gates, stock proof fencing and signage were also installed.

  Additional CIL funding for Phase 5 of Egrets Way has also been secured, which is set to commence in 2021.

• Easebourne Play Park

  Easebourne Parish Council were awarded over £80,000 to help rejuvenate Easebourne Play Park, which has since received the “People’s Choice Design Award” from the SDNPA.

  

  The CIL funds have been used to purchase designated BBQ pits, picnic benches, play equipment, and a notice board and lost property hub.  The myriad of improvements mean that users are able to extend their stays in the park and create a central hub for Easebourne village.

  In 2020, the park also introduced a new scooter track, aimed at children ages 3-10yrs. The markings on the track serve to create early education on highway safety, and ultimately provide endless enjoyment and exercise to children.

  

   

  One mum said “Our son absolutely loved it! The road markings and speed bumps were great fun, and we were really impressed by the creativity and variety in the park!”

• Petworth Pedestrian Crossing

  Crossing a busy road has become easier and safer thanks to a new signalised pedestrian crossing.

  

  The crossing was requested by Petworth Town Council and the work was carried out by West Sussex County Council. The A272, near Downview Road, is a main road and has to be crossed by many children using the bus service to Midhurst Rother College and residents and visitors accessing Petworth Sports Ground and Petworth Deer Park.

  Some £40,000 of CIL funding and Section 106 money, administered by the SNDPA has contributed to the £110,000 scheme.

• Lewes Signal Box

  A charming signal box has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is now the perfect vantage point for bird-watching.

  

  The signal box at Lewes Railway Land Local Nature Reserve was in desperate need of renovation after years of wear and tear. Now the structure has been given a new lease of life, thanks to Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding approved by the South Downs National Park Authority to the tune of £15,000 for habitat restoration.

  Work took place between January and March 2021 and included installing shatter-proof glass, replacing rotten timbers, and improving wheelchair access. Nature-lovers have enjoyed using the signal box as a hide to admire the bird life, top sightings have included heron, little egrets, kingfisher, little grebe and cormorant. The CIL money has also helped to pay for improvements to the water meadows and hedgerows nearby, to improve biodiversity and improve their effectiveness as flood defences.

  In October 2020, the first round of dredging and re-profiling of the ditches on the water meadows adjoining the 25-acre reserve was undertaken by Obsidian Groundworks.

• Lewes Railway Land Dipping Platform

  An urban wildlife haven is enjoying a new lease of life, thanks to CIL funding of over £15,000.

  People and wildlife are benefiting from the improvements at Lewes Railway Land, which is situated in the heart of Lewes, just off Cliffe High Street and behind the train station.
  
  Nestled on the flood plain of the River Ouse, the reserve was once a busy railway marshalling yard that has now been reclaimed by nature. The area where the railway sidings once stood is now crammed with wildflowers that buzz with bees and butterflies.

  The Railway Land Wildlife Trust was awarded £15,500 for habitat improvements to the site’s water meadows and hedgerows. The money has also helped to pay for the installation of a dipping platform for educational purposes and a new gate to a farmer’s field to help ensure visitors are sticking to the correct paths.

  Helen Meade, CEO of Railway Land Wildlife Trust, said:
  “Our new pond dipping platform in the water meadows has opened up a whole world of beautiful water creatures to the many many children and community groups who visit us – the excitement at finding a water stick insect was brilliant! They can dip safely and without damaging the banks of the ditches. When it’s really hot we take the creatures to look at in our Signal Box nature hide – also greatly improved with the help of CIL funding.”

• Lewes Railway Land Footpath Improvements

  An urban wildlife haven is enjoying a new lease of life, thanks to CIL funding of £10,000.

  People and wildlife are benefiting from the improvements at Lewes Railway Land, which is situated in the heart of Lewes, just off Cliffe High Street and behind the train station.
  
  Nestled on the flood plain of the River Ouse, the reserve was once a busy railway marshalling yard that has now been reclaimed by nature. The area where the railway sidings once stood is now crammed with wildflowers that buzz with bees and butterflies.

  The Railway Land Wildlife Trust were awarded £10,000 for footpath improvements from Court Road to the culvert for the Winterbourne Stream which is a heavily used access point. The path becomes impassably muddy during the winter forcing people to walk into the surrounding undergrowth to get through and thereby trampling habitat and establishing informal paths.

  The footpath has been resurfaced providing a more welcoming entrance to the nature reserve and helping restore areas of habitat around the path.

• The Kings Arms Youth Centre, Petersfield

  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.

• Stedham with Iping Recreation Ground

  Stedham with Iping Parish Council were awarded over £5,000 to help rejuvenate the Village Green in Stedham.

  Improvements were required to provide replacement play equipment and better play opportunities for a wide age range of children and also to enable access for all, whilst using natural materials to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape of the South Downs National Park.
  

  

  The works took place in two phases, the first was completed in January 2022 and the second in June 2022. The play area is now being enjoyed by the local community.

• Findon Homewood Play Area

  Findon Parish Council, in collaboration with Arun District Council were awarded over £30,000 to help rejuvenate Findon Homewood Play Area.

  

  Improvements were required to provide replacement play equipment and better play opportunities for a wider age range of children, whilst using natural materials to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape of the South Downs National Park.

  

  The works took place in Spring 2022 and the play area is now being enjoyed by the local community.

• Twyford – Hunter Park Pavilion Refurbishment and Basketball Court

  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.

  The work started in 2020 and was completed in April 2021.

  

  £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.

  The work started in 2020 and was completed in August 2021.

  

  

• Liss Village Hall improvements

  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.

• Bevern Stream natural flood management

  Read the case study provided by the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust through this link.

• Seven Sisters Country Park

  Seven Sisters Country Park was awarded £180,000 in CIL funding to contribute towards the multimillion pound investment for improvements to the visitor facilities at the site, including replacement toilets, a refurbished Visitor Centre and a new grab and go refreshment facility.

  Further information on the project can be found on the Seven Sisters Country Park’s website at the following link:

  Multimillion pound makeover at iconic Seven Sisters is unveiled – Seven Sisters

  

  

  

• Bury CE School Toilet Refurbishment

  Bury CE Primary School were awarded £10,000 in CIL funding for improvements to the toilet facilities at the school.

  Bury Primary School allows its facilities to be used by the local community. The refurbishment and extension of the existing toilets will improve the facilities provided for local community groups and the pupils at the school. School funding will be improved through potential new rentals due to improved facilities.

  The project was completed in April 2022 and has resulted in happier children more confident to use the facilities plus better facilities to offer community groups wishing to hire the school premises.

  Before:

  

  After:

  

• Lavant Play Area

  Lavant Parish Council were awarded £50,000 for the replacement and renewal of the Churchmead Playground in the Village.

  

  Improvements were required to create a playground with a unique natural character whilst providing an attractive, safe place to play for children from a wide age group and with different access requirements

  

  The works took place in Spring 2022 and the play area is now being enjoyed by the local community.

• 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.

• Amberley Car Park

  Amberley Parish Council was awarded £35,000 in CIL funding towards their new car park project. The aims were; to provide a convenient and safe drop-off and collection space for parents taking children to and from Amberley Primary School, to provide a visitor car park, and to improve the free flow of traffic throughout the village as well as pedestrian safety.

  

  The project was completed in November 2022 and is being well used by parents, locals and visitors alike.

• West Liss Recreation Ground Play and Leisure Equipment

  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.

  The before and after photos below show the difference the works have made to the play area.

• St. Thomas A Beckett Church – Tower Access

  St Thomas a Becket Church was awarded £2,500 towards their Tower Access project. The aim was to make safe the 15th Century spiral staircase to Grade II* listed Church to enable public access again.

  

  The project has delivered improved tower access through new lighting, standby lighting, new handrail, stonework repairs, and timber floor repairs.

  

  This work has subsequently enabled a team of volunteer winders to wind the clock (dated from 1670) daily and the first-ever guided public tours of the tower to the clock room and belfry are scheduled to begin in June 2023.

• Lewes Railway Land Habitat Improvements

  The Railway Land Wildlife Trust was awarded £15,500 for habitat improvements to the site’s water meadows and hedgerows. £3,600 of that has gone towards the renovation of Leighside Pond.

  

  The works included the dredging of the pond of silt and rotting timber, clearing of American duckweed and replanting with a wider range of marginal plants. Floating nesting platforms have been installed and hibernacula and perches built using the timber removed from the pond. In addition, areas within the wet woodland have been created that have more varied depth and habitat piles.

  The before and after photos below show the difference the works have made to the pond.

• Access for Paddle Sports users at Seven Sisters Country Park

  Buzz Active was awarded £30,000 in CIL funding for improvements to the access to the river for paddle sport users.

  The works included riverbank repairs and reinforcement, protection of the area from further erosion and providing set places to launch and land from for the betterment of local paddling and water users, including those using Buzz Active outdoor centres.

  The project was completed in April 2022 and has been received very positively.

  

  

  Visitors can now park adjacent to the launch site, giving ready access to a section of purpose built river bank with steps to allow easy access and egress, without overcrowding on the Buzz Active slipway or causing damage to the bank.

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