The Neighbourhood Improvement Projects (NIP) provides funding for improvement works to communal areas of council housing land.
The fund cannot be used for any schemes which have an ongoing service charge element, for maintenance, replacement, or repairs, for improvement to individual properties, for wages or running costs. It is to be used for to improve the environment for all residents living where there are communal areas. NIP is not to be used as a substitute for planned and capital works but may be used to complement them.
The value of the fund is agreed on a yearly basis by the Council and the fund is then allocated by the Investment Group, a resident led Service Improvement Group.
Does any improvement qualify?
The funding is 'capital' and all works must comply with the definition and requirements given below:
"Capital expenditure is an expense where the benefit continues over a long period, rather than being exhausted in a short period. Such expenditure is of a non-recurring nature and results in acquisition of permanent assets. It is thus distinct from a recurring expense."
With a few exceptions listed above, you can bid for almost any improvement work where the expenditure results in buying, building or improving fixed assets up to the value of £25,000 per bid.
There is a separate Place Environmental Rejuvenation Programme (PERP) that is managed in partnership with Groundwork for larger projects up to the value of £75,000.
Please note that some improvements may be subject to planning permission.
Who can apply?
All council housing residents can apply.
TRAs can apply on behalf of their community and if there is no TRA a smaller group acting on behalf of their block or street can also apply.
Where there is no active representation your Housing Officer can submit a bid.
In all cases, evidence of consultation and support for the proposal needs to be provided.
Where a proposed improvement would impact on residents' everyday living individual consultation will need to be carried out.
Need information or advice?
You can contact the Resident Involvement Team on 0208 753 6652, or email Getinvolved@lbhf.gov.uk We are here to give you ideas for potential bids, advice on how to carry out consultation, and support in terms of writing your bid.
How to apply?
Check that your project meets the criteria for Neighbourhood Improvement Projects.
You must consult with other people within your community (your estate, block, or street) to get their support or approval for the project.
You must make your bid in writing, using our standard form.
Who decides?
All funding bids that meet the criteria are considered by the resident-led Investment Group. Where we have more bids than funding available, the Investment Group decides which of the bids carry the highest priority based on the scoring from the weighting criteria matrix (below).
When will works be done?
If your bid is approved, the work will be programmed by our contractors and you will be told when the work is due to be started and completed.
What happens if my bid is not successful?
The Resident Involvement Team will give feedback if your bid is not successful.
It may be that more information is required or your bid needs to be tweaked and can be resubmitted at a later date.
It may even be that a part of your bid has been successful and another part hasn't. Whatever the case, we will work with you so that you understand the reasons why you bid hasn't been successful.
What if I am a leaseholder?
Neighbourhood Improvement Projects are for the benefit of all the community, and all residents can submit bids. Leaseholders will not be billed in their service charges for these works.
Examples of improvements
- Fixed playground equipment in communal areas (not indoor play equipment)
- Improvement works to existing communal gardens, including shrubs and planting where there is no increase to the ground maintenance charges
- Garden furniture
- Sheds (subject to fire safety regulations)
- Fences and gates, but not to individual dwellings
- Secure bike storage
- Waste and recycling enclosures
- New notice boards and signs
- Works to design out anti social behaviour
- New refuse or recycling bin enclosures
- Assets for TRA halls in certain circumstances
- Surfacing of communal areas
What the Neighbourhood Improvement Projects can't fund
- Community events or activities
- Individual improvements to resident's properties
- Projects placing long term & additional financial demand on the Housing Department
- Projects on land which isn't owned by the council's Housing Department
- Applications for work at council office premises
- CCTV
- Door entry systems
How is your bid assessed?
The information below shows the criteria that officers use to assess your bid before it is submitted to the resident-led Investment Group.
1 Is this a true capital project?
Weighting criteria values
0 or 1 (if 0 or 1 no further analysis required)
2 Has strong resident support been evidenced?
Weighting criteria values
0 or 1 (if 0 or 1 no further analysis required)
3 NIP and HEIP/PERP in last 2 years
Weighting criteria point value
1 - >£10k
2 - <£10k
3 - £0
4 What is the impact of the project on:
a the image/appearance of the block or estate?
b the local community?
c security and community safety?
d the environment/biodiversity?
Weighting criteria point value
0 - Negative
4 - Neutral
6 - Positive
e maintenance obligations?
Weighting criteria point value
0 - New
4 - Existing
6 - None
Total out of maximum 35 points