IMPORTANT NOTICE OF GRANT AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR (2024/2025)

We are now open for applications for grant and Technical Support.

MHCLG have extended the support for a seventh year (2024/2025). The Neighbourhood Planning Support Programme will continue to offer grants and Technical Support packages.

The anticipated high demand for neighbourhood planning support means that it will be necessary to prioritise applications.

The process for prioritising Technical Support applications will be determined by MHCLG, taking into account Government priorities such as housing, regeneration, climate change and environmental improvement.

Currently, there is no requirement to prioritise grant applications; however, if the amount of available funding is insufficient to meet the demand, we may need to prioritise applications in the future. Please note, that expenditure met through grant must be completed on or before 31st March 2025.

Applying for support

Before you apply for grant funding and/or technical support it is essential that you read our Neighbourhood Planning Grant & Technical Support Guidance Notes to help you through the process.

Eligibility criteria

How to apply for grant funding and/or Technical Support

Step one: Read the Guidance Notes

This will help you understand what you need to do to complete the process.

View guidance notes for grant funding and/or Technical Support

Step two: Complete an Expression of Interest (EoI) form

Once you have completed and submitted your Expression of Interest (EoI) you will be automatically directed to the application form which you can begin completing immediately or save and resume at a later stage.

Complete an EoI form

Step three: Complete your application form

After submitting your EoI, you will be automatically directed to the application form which you can begin completing immediately.

You are able to resume your application form at a later stage, however to do this you will need to save the form prior to closing it by providing an email address and password. Please use the same email address that you provided in your EoI and make a note of the details you save with.

Once saved, you will be sent a link to the log in page where you can access your saved application form by using the email address and password you provided when you saved.

Every time you would like to leave the form to resume it later, you will need to save it again.

You will have 15 days to complete your application. After 15 days have passed, your form will expire and you will need to complete a new EoI.

If multiple people need to work on the application form they will be able to log in using your saved details. If this is the case, please ensure you choose a password that you are happy to share.

Once you submit your form, you will receive two emails. One with a PDF copy of your application and a second with your application reference details.

Prepare your application answers in advance

To help you prepare your application questions in advance, you can use a blank copy of the application form as a Word document and then copy and paste your answers into any future applications.

Please note this is not your actual application form and you cannot submit this. This is to help you prepare answers to your questions in advance of submitting your actual application form.

Preparing your answers in the blank Word template also prevents loss of data if you cannot submit within the 15 days.

View blank application form in Word (.docx)

Step four: Assessing your application

If you are applying for grant funding only we will assess your grant within 15 working days of receiving all the information we need to assess the application. An assessor may be in touch if there are any queries.

If you are applying for Technical Support you will be contacted by phone or email to arrange a diagnostic session to assess your support needs. All applications for Technical Support are presented to MHCLG to make a decision.

Successful applications

If your application has been successful, you will receive an email to let you know. This will include information on next steps so that you can start receiving your support. For Technical Support applications the email will come from Locality. For grant applications the email will come from Groundwork UK who are the programme’s grant administrators.