Net Zero Villages
Grants of £5,000–£30,000 supported rural community projects in East Cambridgeshire that reduced emissions through building upgrades, low-carbon transport or nature-based cooling.
Diese Finanzierungsmöglichkeit ist derzeit auf Englisch beschrieben.
This fund is closed. The historical scheme supported physical improvements that created an asset, such as insulation, solar panels and heat pumps in community buildings, cycling facilities connecting people to local services, and green roofs that reduced building overheating.
Grants could cover 100% of project costs, with no match funding required. For projects costing more than £30,000, applicants could use other funding for the balance. The council favoured a whole-building approach: solar-panel proposals had to explain why panels were the best option, how much electricity they would generate and how much grid electricity they would replace.
Batteries had to connect directly to an existing or proposed renewable-energy source on the building; batteries mainly charged from off-peak grid electricity were excluded. Water-saving measures needed a link to emissions savings. Information boards were eligible only alongside supported building measures.
Community-led low-carbon minibuses needed evidence of need and sustainable running costs. Nature-based cooling had to address overheating; planting had to use native species and avoid worsening cold winds or reducing winter solar gain. Tree planting for carbon offsetting was excluded.
Eligibility
The historical round accepted East Cambridgeshire parish councils; voluntary, community or social-enterprise organisations with the asset to be improved in East Cambridgeshire; and other public bodies applying on behalf of an East Cambridgeshire community.
- Projects had to be in East Cambridgeshire. Ely and Soham projects were excluded, but villages within those parishes, such as Stuntney and Barway, could qualify. Buildings or land had to be open to the public.
- Applicants needed a constitution or mission statement, an elected committee or representative steering group, and an associated bank account with current accounts or at least a recent statement. They needed safeguarding and equal-opportunity policies, or an explanation of how they would protect children and vulnerable people and ensure equal access.
- Community halls, meeting rooms and parish-owned buildings had to host regular community events or clubs at reasonable cost, with no or negligible annual membership fees and a high degree of accessibility.
- Pubs, hotels and other accommodation, restaurants and cafés, public buildings owned by bodies other than parish councils, buildings primarily used for sports or gyms, churches or other religious buildings, and school buildings were highly unlikely to qualify unless they demonstrated nonprofit operation and clear, long-term community-led involvement in running and funding them. The guidance specifically excluded a county-council library and an NHS clinic. Multipurpose village halls with occasional sports use could qualify; community buildings in church or school grounds could qualify, but the main church or school itself could not.
- Projects had to reduce emissions through community-building energy use, efficiency or generation; low-carbon access to transport or local services; or nature-based cooling of community buildings. Applicants had to provide reasonable estimates and evidence of impact, including emissions, energy use, running costs or existing overheating as relevant. The council also assessed replicability, community engagement, value for money and delivery prospects; eligibility did not guarantee funding.
- Electric-vehicle charge points, new gas or oil boilers, ordinary wear-and-tear repairs, non-community buildings, land or property purchases, and projects potentially harming wider health factors were excluded. Ongoing costs such as salaries, rent, fuel, insurance and maintenance were excluded. Organisations could retain income from selling surplus renewable electricity.
- A small amount for work needed to deliver the main emissions-saving measure could qualify, such as roof strengthening for solar panels. If the majority of the request was for otherwise ineligible work, it could not be funded in full and needed alternative funding.
- Projects with a medium or high risk of failing to finish by February 2026 were excluded. Applicants had to explain required consents, such as planning permission or electricity-network consent, and delivery challenges. They had to own the land or have clear landowner consent.
Awards could not be increased to cover underestimated costs or overspending. Money had to be used for the agreed purpose and spent by 28 February 2026. Publicity had to acknowledge the award, and unused money had to be returned. Recipients had to send the council a brief completion notification and a photograph within three months of completing the project, or by 31 March 2026 if sooner. Fraud, negligence or failure to comply with grant conditions required repayment.
How to apply
- Status
- nicht verfügbar
- Antragsschluss
- Beschränkungen dieser Antragsrunde
- Historical closed intake. Applications ended earlier if the budget was allocated; later applications could be placed on a reserve list.[^c10][^c14]
Applications are closed. For enquiries about the fund, contact East Cambridgeshire District Council at climatechange@eastcambs.gov.uk.
In the historical round, applicants first submitted an Expression of Interest. The council arranged a qualified person's visit to the proposed site and sent successful applicants a full application form; full applications submitted before an Expression of Interest were not accepted. The visit could suggest changes but did not provide a full technical survey. Applicants needed a quote or another reasonable, evidenced cost estimate for the full application.
Full applications were likely to need the constitution, a bank statement dated within the previous two months, cost evidence, a work plan and project map, outcomes, a delivery timeline, a plan for maintaining the project and landowner consent. Safeguarding arrangements also had to be explained.
The three assessment phases covered applications received by 31 December 2024, in January 2025 and in February 2025. The final deadline was 28 February 2025, with earlier closure if the budget was allocated. Later phases could still be considered for a reserve list after earlier allocation. An organisation could seek multiple grants for different projects, but could receive only one award in each phase.
Payment followed acknowledgement of the offer and acceptance of its terms. Larger projects could receive interim payments; advance funding was possible with safeguards for returning unused money.