Pride in Place funding (Courtwick and Toddington)
A total of £20m has been awarded under the government's Pride in Place strategy, which is aimed at creating safer, healthier neighbourhoods where communities can thrive. We are expecting further guidance from central government in due course but are summarising what we know here.
What the funding is for
The guidance states that it is for neighbourhoods to decide how to prioritise funding, based on extensive community engagement, across three core objectives:
- To build stronger communities - all places should have strong relationships and a collective sense of belonging to their community. This helps bring people together to build community cohesion and resilience, helping people to feel proud of their area and safe in their neighbourhood.
- To create thriving places -every part of the UK deserves to have vibrant neighbourhoods and communities with busy high streets, a good range of local amenities and high-quality physical infrastructure.
- To empower people to take back control - talent is spread equally but opportunity is not. Everybody should be empowered and in control of their lives and have a say over the future of their community.
Where the funding will be spent
The government uses Medium Layer Super Output Areas (MSOA), which the census suggests are areas of multiple deprivation. In our case, the MSOA chosen based on the deprivation indices and community need analysis is roughly equivalent to the district ward of Courtwick and Toddington; however, we may need to tweak the boundaries used for funding purposes.
How the funding will be spent
A Neighbourhood Board (which will be set up) is responsible for determining any spending. Our role will likely be that of an accountable body (acts as the 'bank' for the funding) and delivery body of some of the individual projects.
Who sits on a Neighbourhood Board
The guidance says "they should bring together residents, local businesses, grassroots campaigners, workplace representatives, faith, the local MP and community leaders and those with a deep connection to their area. Involving their community, the board should generate a vision for the future of their area and set out a pathway to deliver that over the course of the 10-year programme (and beyond), considering opportunities to attract and combine new and existing private, public, and philanthropic funding streams."
Each Neighbourhood Board will be led by an independent chair, appointed by the local authority following consultation with the local MP. The chair should act as a champion for the place and provide leadership for the board, making sure it is community-led and embedded within the local area.
Neighbourhood Boards must include the relevant local MP and at least one ward councillor.
When the funding must be used
We are expecting the first year of significant funding to arrive in 2027. The key dates announced so far are set out in the table below.
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Date
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Action
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Winter 2025/26
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Neighbourhood Boards and local authorities receive a tailored data pack detailing metrics across the 3 strategic objectives, and polling on local sentiment around investment priorities for their area
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Spring 2026
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) issues 2026 to 2027 capacity and capital funding payment to all places.
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Summer 2026
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Neighbourhood Boards to confirm finalised membership and any proposals to alter the 'default' area boundary to MHCLG by 17 July 2026
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Autumn 2026
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MHCLG to review membership and boundary proposals and confirm to places whether acceptable
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Winter 2026/27
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Neighbourhood Boards submit their Regeneration Plan to MHCLG for assessment and approval
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Spring 2027
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MHCLG approve regeneration plans
First substantive delivery funding payment to be made to local authorities, commencement of delivery phase
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Updates
3 December 2025
The government has provided more information by publishing its Pride in Place Programme prospectus.
We will be advertising for a chairperson for the required partnership board in the new year. After this, the council will assist the chairperson in establishing the partnership board, details of which will be published in 2026.