Our Environmental Improvement Programme funds and delivers small-scale projects that make a lasting and noticeable improvement to the city.
EIP projects have improved war memorials and recreation grounds, as well as landscaped areas and roadside verges. We have also added and improved fencing, gates, benches, street trees, litter bins, wayfinding lighting and notice boards.
Once we open another funding round anyone can once again put forward ideas, previously this was chiefly through their local area ward councillors, however from 2022 we now use a combination of our engagement platform residents of Cambridge to come forward with project ideas and vote for ideas for EIP.
Funding types available
Local Area based EIP funding
Local Area based EIP funding provides our four area committees (South Area, East Area, West/Central Area and North Area), a capital budget in proportion to the size of its population.
Committees will consider which projects in their area they recommend for funding, up to a project value of £5,000 (or £10,000 if strongly supported).
Additionally, committees may be strongly influenced by the numbers of residents that support projects in their areas on the engagement platform.
Strategic based EIP funding
This element of the programme is dedicated to priorities the Council has identified as being important across all areas of Cambridge, and include making better use of roadside verges, enhancing tree canopy, improving biodiversity, benches (that promote community/social interaction) and providing free public drinking water points.
Project consideration process
Following the funding round closure, projects and ideas will be considered and collated then a report will be produced by officers and presented to the area committees. The committees will then consider and recommend which projects in their area they believe should be funded.
All the area projects and the strategic projects will be presented to the Executive Councillor for Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity and considered for approval.
The selected ideas for the 2022 bidding round are set out below.
We have run an Environmental Improvement Programme annually since 2004; and review it regularly to ensure it is providing value to Cambridge and our communities. A further review was undertaken in 2022.
The council also operates other funding programmes for different types of projects. If your project isn't eligible for Environmental Improvement Programme funding, you could investigate S106 funding or other grants and funding.
Approved area projects 2023
North area
| Area | Project title |
|---|---|
| N1 - 2023 | Logan’s Meadow noticeboard improvement. |
| N2 - 2023 | Jubilee Gardens establishing the space as a Green Asset - through the installation of additional benches. |
| N3 - 2023 | Hazelwood Close - Seating installation. |
| N4 - 2023 | Biodiversity and social interaction improvements to Green End Road Park. |
| N5 - 2023 | Community noticeboard Mayfield area. |
| N13 - 2023 | Restore benches at the 'Cyclops' junction on Histon Road. |
| N17- 2023 | Community planting on Campkin Road. |
| N18 - 2023 | Community planting in Minerva Way/King's Hedges recreation ground. |
| N19 - 2023 | Making the most of small spaces in King’s Hedges. |
| N20 - 2023 | Create a community haven on Green End Road, East Chesterton. |
| N21 - 2023 | Benches - Scotland Road recreation ground. |
| N22 - 2023 | Moving Forward – Arbury Court Community Garden Project. |
West/Central area
| Area | Project title |
|---|---|
| WC1 - 2023 | Tree protection at the end of Skaters Meadow Roadway. |
| WC2 - 2023 | Biodiversity improvements - Woodlark Road, Hoadley Road, Sherlock Road and Eachard Road. |
| WC6 - 2023 | Display boards for the Ascension Burial Ground. |
| WC9 - 2023 | Community Noticeboards in Newnham, Castle and Market to promote community Cohesion. |
| WC14 – 2023 | Planting to screen Lammas Land from traffic and reduce air pollution in the park. |
| WC15 – 2023 | Improve a bench in Newnham. |
| WC17 – 2023 | Improvements to shared use paths on Midsummer Common. |
| WC13 – 2023 | Bins around Gough Way. |
| WC16 – 2023 | Christs’ Pieces - Provision of places for unsightly bins improving environment. |
South area
| Area | Project title |
|---|---|
| S1 - 2023 | Installation of drinking fountains - Hobsons Square, Trumpington. |
| S2 - 2023 | Safe access and entry to a LEAP. |
| S3 – 2023 | Reduce yearly Christmas tree cutting and disposal by installing lights in tree. |
| S4 – 2023 | Information board for Cherry Hinton recreation ground. |
East area
| Area | Project title |
|---|---|
| E2 - 2023 | Gwydir Street seating. |
| E3 - 2023 | Green the Streets. |
| E4 - 2023 | Improving biodiversity - East Road housing area. |
| E12 - 2023 | Biodiversity and social interaction improvements - Maple Tree area, St Matthews Street. |
| E14 - 2023 | Increase biodiversity in Headly Street and Eagle Street with planting. |
| E15- 2023 | Making Rustat Road/Corrie Road cut through and green space safer. |
| E16 - 2023 | A memorial to a forgotten abolitionist. |
| E18 - 2023 | Two bench seats for Petersfield Green. |
| E19- 2023 | Create a community haven on Green End Road, East Chesterton. |
| E21 - 2023 | Community bench and biodiversity in Jack Warren Green. |
| E22 - 2023 | Wildflowers on the corner of Rawlyn Road/Stanesfield Road. |
| E26 - 2023 | Wildflower and/or bulbs along the outside of the Coleridge recreation ground fence planting. |
| E27 - 2023 | A community garden on Peverel Road. |
Approved strategic projects 2023
| Area | Project title |
|---|---|
| sN7- 2023 | Improving biodiversity on Carisbrooke Road's central green space |
| sN12 - 2023 | Bee Balconies! Pollinator-friendly planting for flats |
| City 1 | Citywide community engagement led biodiversity and habitat improvement projects |
| sE1 - 2023 | St Matthew’s Piece - Improving biodiversity |
| sE8 - 2023 | Increasing biodiversity in our street (Sedgwick Street) |
| sE13- 2023 | Increase biodiversity and public wellbeing on Barnwell Road |
| sE23 - 2023 | Improve tree cover in Hobart Road |
| sE24 - 2023 | Create community gardens, increase biodiversity and beautify - Tiverton Estate |
| sWC7 | Planting on existing pavement islands, Norwich Street |
Suggest a project or idea
We are currently not open for new Environmental Improvement Programme projects although we hope to run a further round in the summer of 2023.
To qualify, your suggested project must meet the eligibility criteria, [PDF, 0.1MB] be submitted by the deadline (to be confirmed) and aim to be delivered by the end of 2024 at the latest.
There are two options to get your idea(s) considered:
- Preferred Option: to sign-up to engagement platform and put forward ideas and suggestions. The added advantage is that the platform also gives you the ability to support other proposed EIP projects (which may make them more likely to be approved). This option also might reduce duplication of projects.
- By completing the application template form and then submit this by email to projectdevelopment@cambridge.gov.uk. Please note that it's intended that as soon as these are received, they will be posted on Citizenlab.
We’ll assess each suggestion against the eligibility criteria, ensure they are viable and then ask the relevant committees to consider the ideas in the winter of 2023 via a recommendations report.
The following discussions then go to the Executive Councillor, for Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity, for decision on funding allocation for the proposed projects.
Available funds
We expect to make the following amounts available to each area committee and for Strategic EIP funding for the Environmental Improvement Programme projects in 2023/24, and again in 2024/25.
- East area – Abbey, Coleridge, Petersfield and Romsey wards: £28,100
- North area – Arbury, East Chesterton, King’s Hedges and West Chesterton wards: £29,600
- South area – Cherry Hinton, Queen Edith’s and Trumpington wards: £20,900
- West/Central area – Castle, Market and Newnham wards: £21,400
- Strategic funds – £70,000
Live projects prior to 2023 approvals
East Area (Abbey, Coleridge, Petersfield and Romsey Wards)
| Scheme | Description | Ward |
|---|---|---|
| Birdwood Road - bus shelter | Installing a new bus shelter | Coleridge |
| Petersfield ward streets - window boxes | Offering window boxes to residents who live north of Mill Road lacking front garden, to help soften hard landscaped street-scenes | Petersfield |
| North Petersfield -noticeboards | Installing new community noticeboards near the new community centre, and on the corner of Ainsworth Street and Sleaford Street corner | Petersfield |
North Area (Arbury, East Chesterton, Kings Hedges and West Chesterton Wards)
| Scheme | Description | Ward |
|---|---|---|
| Hurst Park Avenue verge planting | Planting the highway verge margin on the north-eastern side of Hurst Park Avenue | West Chesterton |
| Campkin Road shops | Further soft landscaping of the circular tree bed on Campkin Road shop forecourt. | Kings Hedges |
| Humberstone Road landscaping | Reconfiguring the landscaped area at the end of Humberstone Road joining Elizabeth Way, to improve appearance and access | West Chesterton |
| Mitcham's Corner cycle parking | Installing additional cycle parking stands around Mitcham's Corner. | West Chesterton |
| Hurst Park estate - community notice board | Provision of a new community notice board for the Hurst Park estate, likely to be at the main entrance to Hurst Park Avenue from Milton Road | West Chesterton |
| Gilbert Road - reinstatement of grass verges | Reinstatement of grass verge areas at the Milton Road end of Gilbert Road | West Chesterton |
| West Chesterton - cycle parking hoops | Addition of 'hoops' at various locations to allow cycle parking against bollards, signposts, lighting columns and so on | West Chesterton |
South Area (Cherry Hinton, Queen Edith’s and Trumpington Wards
| Scheme | Description | Ward |
|---|---|---|
| Cavendish Avenue | Landscaped road narrowing at the Hills Road end of Cavendish Avenue | Queen Edith's |
| Monkswell cycle parking | Installation of communal cycle parking on the Monkswell estate, to improve community cohesion | Trumpington |
| Trumpington fringes bus stops | Installation of bus stops and shelters on new estates | Trumpington |
West and Central Areas (Castle, Market and Newnham Wards
| Scheme | Description | Ward |
|---|---|---|
| Clivedon Close bench and landscaping | Provision of a suitable bench around the existing tree in the green area at the end of Clivedon Close, with landscaping enhancement | Castle |
| Histon Road shops bench | Provision of a bench or benches outside the shops on Histon Road | Castle |
| Histon Road recreation ground improvements | Installation of picnic benches and cycle racks on Histon Road recreation ground | Castle |
| Adam and Eve Street/ Paradise Street corner environmental enhancement | Landscaping enhancements to well established green open space to rejuvenate area and discourage antisocial behaviour | Market |
| Sidney Street green landscaping | Provision of a further street tree and engineered tree pit (if viable), on Sidney Street between Market Street and Petty Cury to assist water, heat, air quality and biodiversity management | Market |
Strategic EIP funding budget
| Scheme | Detail | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Thorleye Road, Stanesfield Road and Whitehill Road corners | Biodiversity Improvements | Abbey |
| Whitehill Road verge protection | Verge Protection and Biodiversity improvements | Abbey |
| Coleridge street tree and verge protection | Engineered Tree planting and Pits | Coleridge |
| Romsey 'insect hotels' | Biodiversity Improvements | Romsey |
| Programme of welcome and biodiversity signage for open spaces | Explanatory Boards for Biodiversity and other greenspace improvements across the city | Various |
Local highway improvement projects
If your proposed project is on the Highway, it might be more applicable for Local Highway Improvement projects.
Local councillors, community groups and individuals can also apply for Cambridgeshire County Council Local Highway Improvement funding. The county council will provide up to £15,000 towards successful applications, with a minimum of 10% of the project cost either being met locally or by us, where projects meet an agreed priority.
Successful projects will be those that both benefit the local community and help the County Council manage its assets better. For example by improving signs, road markings and crossings, speed management measures or parking controls.
Applications for Local Highways Improvements should be sent directly to the County Council. Where we feel that an application to our Environmental Improvement Programme is ineligible, but suited to consideration as a Local Highway Improvement, we will let you know.
- Find out more about privately funded highway improvements on the county council website.
