Our Environmental Improvement Programme (EIP) funds and delivers projects that will improve the city. Projects must make a lasting and noticeable improvement to the local area.
Previous projects have improved parks and recreation grounds, landscaped areas and roadside verges. We have added and improved fencing and gates, wildflower areas and community gardens, benches, street trees and notice boards.
Anybody can suggest a project or help us decide which ones to fund by liking or commenting on ideas when an application round is live. Then you can suggest, comment on and vote for projects, before councillors decide which ones to fund. We host the project on our engagement platform.
Funding of up to £25,000 is available from a limited budget for each project, with a preferred minimum value of £5,000. We usually cannot fund all proposed projects in any given year.
The most recent proposal process took place in 2023, and the chosen projects are being delivered. We asked for ideas from June to August and for votes on them in August and September.
Analysis, decision and prioritisation took place from September 2023 to January 2024. All current projects are listed below.
The EIP programme is subject to review and we do not expect to hold another funding round in 2025.
The EIP programme has run since 2004. We review it regularly to ensure it continues to provide value to Cambridge and its communities. We last reviewed it in 2022.
If your project is not eligible for EIP funding, you could investigate developer contributions (S106 funding) or other grants and funding.
Project proposals and approval
The application process is now closed until it can be run again, and we do not expect to run another round in 2025.
New projects in past rounds have been prioritised using a 'red-amber-green' mechanism to assess their eligibility. We consider aspects such as viability, value for money and future maintenance requirements. Local support for each project, based on comments and votes on our engagement platform, also informs decisions.
In previous years, local councillors agreed funding for most projects at area committees. These committees are no longer active, so the executive councillor will decide which future projects to fund following consultation with all ward Councillors.
Projects valued at more than £10,000 need strong local support. They must focus on a key objective that fits with our corporate priorities. These were known as strategic projects in previous years. In future funding rounds the strategic objective will be biodiversity net gain.
Environmental Improvement Programme projects
The following projects have been approved in recent funding rounds for our Environmental Improvement Programme. The list was last updated in April 2025.
East area: Abbey
A community garden on Peverel Road
Greenspace between 40 and 60 Peverel Road to be improved to reduce impact of vehicular damage.
- Application round: 2022/23
- Status: project scoping
- Delivery target: by spring 2026
Riverside area shrub bed planting
Renew planting beds including the one which runs down the length of River Lane and at the junction of Beche Road and Abbey Road.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project subject to review
- Delivery target: by end autumn 2026
New planters around Equiano pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Cam
Plant pollinators in containers near the footings of the Equiano Bridge.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project under review
- Delivery target: by early 2026
East area: Coleridge
Street tree and verge protection
Strategic project. Extension of the Perne Road verge protection scheme trial to neighbouring streets.
- Application round: 2019/20
- Status: review of scope, benefits and practicality
- Delivery target: to be confirmed
Create community gardens, increase biodiversity and beautify the Tiverton estate
Strategic project. Increase biodiversity whilst making it a more welcoming and attractive area, with easy to maintain planting plus spaces for local food growing
- Application round: 2022/23
- Status: subject to review
- Delivery target: to be confirmed
Creating spaces for people to meet on Coleridge recreation ground
Picnic benches and cycle racks to be installed.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: delivery
- Delivery target: by end of April 2025
Increase biodiversity and tree cover along Cherry Hinton Road
Strategic project. Cherry Hinton Road particularly west of Perne Road lacks greenery. Aspiration is to plant 3 trees into new engineered tree pits.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project investigation
- Delivery target: by end of winter 2025/26
East area: Petersfield
Improving biodiversity on East Road and at the St Matthew’s housing area
Wildflowers and grasses to be planted in the public space.
- Application round: 2022/23
- Status: project subject to review
- Delivery target: by end of autumn 2025
Increase biodiversity in Headly Street and Eagle Street (Iron Works site) with planting
This HRA/ CIP developed site is at an advanced stage of handover, with local engagement underway to identify priority areas for focus.
- Application round: 2022/23
- Status: project subject to review
- Delivery target: to be confirmed
Rainwater collection for Millennium Gardens
Harness and recycle surface water discharge from council owned building and store for community usage.
Improving biodiversity on St Matthew’s Pieces
Strategic project. Biodiversity improvements identified through local open space management plan.
- Application round: 2022/23
- Status: project engagement
- Delivery target: by end of spring 2026
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project subject to review
- Delivery target: by early 2026
Extend the successful ‘Green the Streets’ scheme - Phase 3
Builds on the already successful greening Petersfield scheme through promotion of window boxes and hanging baskets. Focus on Perowne Street, Convent Garden, Mill Street, Cross Street and the Mill Road ends of Mawson Road and Glisson Road.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project under review
- Delivery target: to be confirmed
Mill Road cemetery entrance blind corner needs safety measures
Safety measures at the northern passageway entrance to Mill Road cemetery.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project investigation
- Delivery target: by end of 2025
Additional community notice board
Community notice board for St Matthew’s Piece.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project investigation
- Delivery target: by end of 2025
Aberdeen Avenue garden, Accordia, or similar location greening
Replanting of dead hedge species along with a practical solution to rainwater re-harvesting.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project subject to review
- Delivery target: by spring of 2026
East area: Romsey
Two community information noticeboards
New notice boards near the Co-op and on Romsey recreation ground.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: local engagement
- Delivery target: by end of May 2025
North area: Arbury
Restore bench at the ‘cyclops’ junction of Histon Road and Gilbert Road
Reinstall bench lost due to junction reconfiguration works.
- Application round: 2022/23
- Status: project investigation
- Delivery target: by autumn 2025
Provide raised planting beds in Hazelwood Close
Raised beds on the patch of grass where Hazelwood Close meets Molewood Close, such that the local community can fill them with shade-loving plants.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project subject to review
- Delivery target: by spring 2026
Protection of grassy areas and biodiversity increase at junction of Verulam Way and Rutland Close
To implement improvements to increase biodiversity on the green space and protect the grass, and trees from compaction caused by vehicles parking.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Ward: Arbury
- Status: project engagement
- Delivery target: by end of 2025
North area: East Chesterton
Biodiversity and social interaction improvements to Green End Road recreation ground
Install benches and biodiversity improvements to green space.
- Application round: 2022/23
- Status: project investigation
- Delivery target: by end of autumn 2025
Create a community haven on Green End Road
Landscaping to promote biodiversity around the Methodist church and proposed community café. Awaiting church committee decision on landscaping implementation.
- Application round: 2022/23
- Status: project delivery
- Delivery target: by summer 2025
Water Street, Chesterton Preservation Plan
Restoring and managing bug hotels, creating wildlife corridors, planting wildflower meadow and promoting opportunities to engage with nature
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: engaging landowners for consent
- Delivery target: by winter 2025
North area: West Chesterton
Enhancing biodiversity at Alexandra Gardens
To improve the biodiversity and amenity through a variety of biodiversity measures developed in consultation with residents, such as wildflower mounds, wooden insect habitats plus bird and bat boxes
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project investigation
- Delivery target: by end of 2025
Greening Gilbert Road through tree planting
Strategic project. Planting one or two trees, with requisite tree pit infrastructure in the hard landscaped verge adjacent the new aparthotel. Extension to previously committed project.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: local engagement
- Delivery target: by autumn 2025
South area: Cherry Hinton
Reclaiming green spaces on Church End and Rosemary Lane through tree planting
Plant new trees and bushes along the verges on Church End, Cherry Hinton.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project being specified
- Delivery target: by end of 2025
South area: Queen Ediths’s
Growing the ‘Nightingale Garden community’ by increasing biodiversity and engagement
A series of improvements that promote biodiversity.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project engagement
- Delivery target: by end of 2025
South area: Trumpington
Installation of drinking fountain in Hobson’s Square
Drinking fountain unviable, but external tap to be provided at Clay Farm Community Centre.
- Application round: 2022/23
- Status: project being implemented
West/ Central area: Castle
Environmental enhancements on the corner of Adam and Eve Street and Paradise Street
Re-landscaping and biodiversity enhancements.
- Application round: 2019/20
- Status: project subject to review
- Delivery target: to be confirmed
Histon Road recreation ground biodiversity improvements
Making the most of the trees, bushes and shrubs for promotion of wildlife by renewing and adding additional bird and bat boxes, creating areas of more appropriate meadow through native perennial turf.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project engagement
- Delivery target: by end of 2025
Enhance biodiversity in Ascension Parish Burial Ground of Huntingdon Road
Creation of small pond to protect species which suffer during drought, bird boxes, paved area in front of community information boards, Sheffield hoop bicycle stands and fitting of dowels to gravestones for public safety.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project engagement
- Delivery target: by end of 2025
West/ Central area: Market
Christ’s Pieces environmental enhancement
Creation of a trade waste bin holding area to the rear of King Street businesses, to improve the local environment.
- Application round: 2022/23
- Status: detailed design with review of costs and benefits
- Delivery target: by end of 2025
Enhance biodiversity at St Clement’s churchyard on Bridge Street
Creating a ‘biodiversity hub’ in the churchyard, to promote interest in the local ecosystem and provide resources such as plants and seeds to enrich residents’ gardens.
- Application round: 2023/24
- Status: project engagement
- Delivery target: by end of 2025, subject to planning approval
West/ Central area: Newnham
River bridge streetscape enhancement on Silver Street
Strategic project. Public realm enhancements to be undertaken alongside redevelopment of public toilets.
- Application round: 2019/20
- Status: project design
- Delivery target: by end of autumn 2025
Local highway improvement projects
If your proposed project is on the highway, it might be more applicable for Local Highway Improvement funding.
Local councillors, community groups and individuals can apply to Cambridgeshire County Council for funding. The county council will provide up to £25,000 towards successful applications. At least 10% of the project cost must be met locally – we can help with this if the project meets an agreed priority.
Successful projects will be those that benefit the local community and help the county council manage its assets better. Examples include improved signs, road markings and crossings, speed management measures or parking controls.
Send your application for Local Highways Improvement funding to the county council. We will tell you if we think your proposal for EIP funding is ineligible but might be appropriate as a Local Highway Improvement.
- Find out more about privately funded highway improvements on the county council website.
