CIL-funded Projects
Detailed here are a selection of some of the projects that have been funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
This is not an exhaustive list and as such this page will be updated on a regular basis as new projects are delivered.
For further information on CIL funded projects not listed please contact cil@southdowns.gov.uk
- Goodwood Seeley Copse Education Centre
The Goodwood Education Trust welcomes over 3,000 children each year to Seeley Copse for educational visits. The Trust give the opportunity for children to immerse themselves in the countryside and learn about where their food comes from and understand how the natural environment plays a part in it.The previous education facility was inadequate, with insufficient space for wet weather activities, and unsuitable access for disabled students and visitors.
Goodwood Education Trust received a £40,000 CIL grant towards a new purpose built Education Centre at Seeley Copse.
The new facility will provide much needed wet weather learning space, unisex toilets and a kitchen, all fully accessible for disabled users. The enhanced education centre can facilitate year round outside the classroom learning, with space for up to 80 children inside. Additional activities such as crafts, scientific exploration, and cooking, all using local produce, are able to be added to the existing program, expanding understanding and knowledge about the natural environment. - Egrets Way
The overall objective of the Egrets Way network is to provide safe, sustainable access to the towns, villages, services and amenities of the Lower Ouse Valley for everyday use and for the purposes of encouraging tourism, the local economy and health and well-being.
Before start of restoration works CIL funding was granted to contribute to the delivery of Phase 4 of the Egrets Way network of shared-use cycle paths in the Lower Ouse Valley between Lewes and Newhaven.
After the completion of restoration works The newly refurbished 950m section boasts a 2.5m width surfaced path suitable for walkers, disabled users and cyclists. New accessible gates, stock proof fencing and signage were also installed.
Additional CIL funding for Phase 5 of Egrets Way has also been secured, which is set to commence in 2021.
- Easebourne Play Park
Easebourne Parish Council were awarded over £80,000 to help rejuvenate Easebourne Play Park, which has since received the “People’s Choice Design Award” from the SDNPA.
The CIL funds have been used to purchase designated BBQ pits, picnic benches, play equipment, and a notice board and lost property hub. The myriad of improvements mean that users are able to extend their stays in the park and create a central hub for Easebourne village.
In 2020, the park also introduced a new scooter track, aimed at children ages 3-10yrs. The markings on the track serve to create early education on highway safety, and ultimately provide endless enjoyment and exercise to children.
One mum said “Our son absolutely loved it! The road markings and speed bumps were great fun, and we were really impressed by the creativity and variety in the park!”
In 2023 the final phase of the project was completed with the addition of two eco, off-grid, permanent WC facilities, enabling visitors to stay for longer without having to worry about finding facilities elsewhere.
- Petworth Pedestrian Crossing
Crossing a busy road has become easier and safer thanks to a new signalised pedestrian crossing.
The crossing was requested by Petworth Town Council and the work was carried out by West Sussex County Council. The A272, near Downview Road, is a main road and has to be crossed by many children using the bus service to Midhurst Rother College and residents and visitors accessing Petworth Sports Ground and Petworth Deer Park.
Some £40,000 of CIL funding and Section 106 money, administered by the SNDPA has contributed to the £110,000 scheme.
- Lewes Signal Box
A charming signal box has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is now the perfect vantage point for bird-watching.
The signal box at Lewes Railway Land Local Nature Reserve was in desperate need of renovation after years of wear and tear. Now the structure has been given a new lease of life, thanks to Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding approved by the South Downs National Park Authority to the tune of £15,000 for habitat restoration.
Work took place between January and March 2021 and included installing shatter-proof glass, replacing rotten timbers, and improving wheelchair access. Nature-lovers have enjoyed using the signal box as a hide to admire the bird life, top sightings have included heron, little egrets, kingfisher, little grebe and cormorant. The CIL money has also helped to pay for improvements to the water meadows and hedgerows nearby, to improve biodiversity and improve their effectiveness as flood defences.
In October 2020, the first round of dredging and re-profiling of the ditches on the water meadows adjoining the 25-acre reserve was undertaken by Obsidian Groundworks.
- Lewes Railway Land Dipping Platform
An urban wildlife haven is enjoying a new lease of life, thanks to CIL funding of over £15,000.
People and wildlife are benefiting from the improvements at Lewes Railway Land, which is situated in the heart of Lewes, just off Cliffe High Street and behind the train station.
Nestled on the flood plain of the River Ouse, the reserve was once a busy railway marshalling yard that has now been reclaimed by nature. The area where the railway sidings once stood is now crammed with wildflowers that buzz with bees and butterflies.The Railway Land Wildlife Trust was awarded £15,500 for habitat improvements to the site’s water meadows and hedgerows. The money has also helped to pay for the installation of a dipping platform for educational purposes and a new gate to a farmer’s field to help ensure visitors are sticking to the correct paths.
Helen Meade, CEO of Railway Land Wildlife Trust, said:
“Our new pond dipping platform in the water meadows has opened up a whole world of beautiful water creatures to the many many children and community groups who visit us – the excitement at finding a water stick insect was brilliant! They can dip safely and without damaging the banks of the ditches. When it’s really hot we take the creatures to look at in our Signal Box nature hide – also greatly improved with the help of CIL funding.” - Lewes Railway Land Footpath Improvements
An urban wildlife haven is enjoying a new lease of life, thanks to CIL funding of £10,000.
People and wildlife are benefiting from the improvements at Lewes Railway Land, which is situated in the heart of Lewes, just off Cliffe High Street and behind the train station.
Nestled on the flood plain of the River Ouse, the reserve was once a busy railway marshalling yard that has now been reclaimed by nature. The area where the railway sidings once stood is now crammed with wildflowers that buzz with bees and butterflies.The Railway Land Wildlife Trust were awarded £10,000 for footpath improvements from Court Road to the culvert for the Winterbourne Stream which is a heavily used access point. The path becomes impassably muddy during the winter forcing people to walk into the surrounding undergrowth to get through and thereby trampling habitat and establishing informal paths.
The footpath has been resurfaced providing a more welcoming entrance to the nature reserve and helping restore areas of habitat around the path.
- The Kings Arms Youth Centre, Petersfield
The Kings Arms Youth Centre were given £15,000 of CIL funding to refurbish the kitchen in their new permanent base in Petersfield.
The Kings Arms Youth Centre have been supporting young people through their extensive support programs and after school activities. The programs are designed to help support young people to feel positive about themselves, and their futures. The new kitchen has given the centre a fresh and safe space for young people to relax and support one another.
- Stedham with Iping Recreation Ground
Stedham with Iping Parish Council were awarded over £5,000 to help rejuvenate the Village Green in Stedham.
Improvements were required to provide replacement play equipment and better play opportunities for a wide age range of children and also to enable access for all, whilst using natural materials to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape of the South Downs National Park.
The works took place in two phases, the first was completed in January 2022 and the second in June 2022. The play area is now being enjoyed by the local community.
- Findon Homewood Play Area
Findon Parish Council, in collaboration with Arun District Council were awarded over £30,000 to help rejuvenate Findon Homewood Play Area.
Improvements were required to provide replacement play equipment and better play opportunities for a wider age range of children, whilst using natural materials to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape of the South Downs National Park.
The works took place in Spring 2022 and the play area is now being enjoyed by the local community.
- Twyford – Hunter Park Pavilion Refurbishment and Basketball Court
Twyford Parish Council were awarded over £17,000 in CIL funding for two projects at Hunter Park in Twyford.
£5,000 in CIL funds were provided for repairs and renovations to the existing Pavilion at Hunter Park to upgrade the heating and lighting facilities, upgrade the showers, paint the exterior and other improvement works.
The work started in 2020 and was completed in April 2021.
£12,700 was also awarded for the refurbishment of the underutilised basketball court and its transformation in to a multi game area with traverse wall and climbing stack.
The work started in 2020 and was completed in August 2021.
- Liss Village Hall improvements
Liss Parish Council were awarded £15,000 in CIL funding for improvements to the toilet facilities at Liss Village Hall.
The works included replacement flooring and tiling, redecoration, the addition of a baby change unit and additional wash basins.
The old flush system was replaced with a modern system which uses approximately half the amount of water and the lighting was adapted to LED.
- Bevern Stream natural flood management
Read the case study provided by the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust through this link.
- Seven Sisters Country Park
Seven Sisters Country Park was awarded £180,000 in CIL funding to contribute towards the multimillion pound investment for improvements to the visitor facilities at the site, including replacement toilets, a refurbished Visitor Centre and a new grab and go refreshment facility.
Further information on the project can be found on the Seven Sisters Country Park’s website at the following link:
Multimillion pound makeover at iconic Seven Sisters is unveiled – Seven Sisters
- Access for Paddle Sports users at Seven Sisters Country Park
Buzz Active was awarded £30,000 in CIL funding for improvements to the access to the river for paddle sport users.
The works included riverbank repairs and reinforcement, protection of the area from further erosion and providing set places to launch and land from for the betterment of local paddling and water users, including those using Buzz Active outdoor centres.
The project was completed in April 2022 and has been received very positively.
Before improvements 
After improvements Visitors can now park adjacent to the launch site, giving ready access to a section of purpose built river bank with steps to allow easy access and egress, without overcrowding on the Buzz Active slipway or causing damage to the bank.
- Bury CE School Toilet Refurbishment
Bury CE Primary School were awarded £10,000 in CIL funding for improvements to the toilet facilities at the school.
Bury Primary School allows its facilities to be used by the local community. The refurbishment and extension of the existing toilets will improve the facilities provided for local community groups and the pupils at the school. School funding will be improved through potential new rentals due to improved facilities.
The project was completed in April 2022 and has resulted in happier children more confident to use the facilities plus better facilities to offer community groups wishing to hire the school premises.
Before:
After:
- Lavant Play Area
Lavant Parish Council were awarded £50,000 for the replacement and renewal of the Churchmead Playground in the Village.
Improvements were required to create a playground with a unique natural character whilst providing an attractive, safe place to play for children from a wide age group and with different access requirements
The works took place in Spring 2022 and the play area is now being enjoyed by the local community.
- Stroud Village Highway Improvement Scheme
Stroud Parish Council, in collaboration with Hampshire County Council Highways were awarded £20,000 for public realm improvements on the A272 in Stroud.
Improvements undertaken included gateway feature fencing, new village signs and rationalisation of existing signs, removal of central white lines, new pedestrian crossing point facility serving existing bus stops and helping with safe routes to school and removable speed reduction posts/ground sockets for Speed Indicator Device sites.
The works began in Autumn 2021 and took around 6 months to complete.
- Amberley Car Park
Amberley Parish Council was awarded £35,000 in CIL funding towards their new car park project. The aims were; to provide a convenient and safe drop-off and collection space for parents taking children to and from Amberley Primary School, to provide a visitor car park, and to improve the free flow of traffic throughout the village as well as pedestrian safety.
The project was completed in November 2022 and is being well used by parents, locals and visitors alike.
- West Liss Recreation Ground Play and Leisure Equipment
Liss Parish Council were awarded £50,000 in CIL funding to help rejuvenate the Play Area at West Liss Recreation Ground.
The equipment in the existing children’s play area was out of date and much has been deemed unsafe and removed. The design of the new play area was chosen following a consultation with the local community and includes a natural Robinia design, intended to fit within a rural setting in the SDNPA whilst providing a high quality play area that local children and parents/ carers have asked for and have been directly involved in shaping.
The works were completed in August 2022 and the play area is now being enjoyed by the local community.
- St. Thomas A Becket Church – Tower Access
St Thomas a Becket Church was awarded £2,500 towards their Tower Access project. The aim was to make safe the 15th Century spiral staircase to Grade II* listed Church to enable public access again.
Repaired stairway with new handrail The project has delivered improved tower access through new lighting, standby lighting, new handrail, stonework repairs, and timber floor repairs.
1670 Clock workings This work has subsequently enabled a team of volunteer winders to wind the clock (dated from 1670) daily and the first-ever guided public tours of the tower to the clock room and belfry are scheduled to begin in June 2023.
- Lewes Railway Land Habitat Improvements
The Railway Land Wildlife Trust was awarded £15,500 for habitat improvements to the site’s water meadows and hedgerows. £3,600 of that has gone towards the renovation of Leighside Pond.
The works included the dredging of the pond of silt and rotting timber, clearing of American duckweed and replanting with a wider range of marginal plants. Floating nesting platforms have been installed and hibernacula and perches built using the timber removed from the pond. In addition, areas within the wet woodland have been created that have more varied depth and habitat piles.
- Lewes Railway Land – Mound at the Heart of Reeds Improvements
The Railway Land Wildlife Trust was awarded £10,000 in CIL funding for improvements to the mound by the Heart of Reeds area of the reserve.
Before 
After The old plastic handrail has been replaced, making the mound safe again, and the overall appearance is greatly improved. The mound is at the ‘gateway point’ of the Railway Land, so the aesthetic improvement is very valuable. Wildflower seeds will also shortly be planted.
- South Downs Way Route Improvements – Chilcomb Case Study
£61,000 in CIL funding has created a new 750metre, multi-user, off road route to accommodate the South Downs Way National Trail.
Before 
After The new route gives users a much safer, wider and more enjoyable route away from the carriage way edge of the A31.
- Fernhurst Pavilion
£200,000 in CIL funding was awarded to the Fernhurst Recreation Ground Trust to modernise and expand the 50 year old sports pavilion on the Recreation Ground in Fernhurst.
The projects aims were to expand and modernise the sports pavilion, as well as providing a café and events space for the whole communities use.
Sports users now have safe, clean and appropriate changing facilities which meet the regulations of the various national sports bodies. Disabled access was a major element that was missing from the previous building and feedback from users with these needs about the improved environment has all been very positive.
Before 
After The project had strong support from both the local community and the sports clubs and on the late spring Bank Holiday Monday a Festival of Sport Community Event was held to celebrate the opening of the new pavilion. Four teams completed across three different sports, Cricket, Football and Tennis with an overall winner receive the Community Cup. The event was well attended by the local community and invited guests who had contributed to the funding of the project.
- Wallands Primary SuDS in Schools Project
The Aquifer Partnership (TAP) was awarded £160,000 in CIL funding for their innovative SuDS in Schools project at Wallands Primary School in Lewes.
- Lewes Railway Land Interpretation Boards
The Railway Land Wildlife Trust in Lewes was awarded £1,000 in CIL funding for new Interpretation Boards.
Previously the reserve had no interpretation boards and it was hard for visitors to get a sense of the site’s history, the diversity of habitats and the thinking behind the development of the site as an urban nature reserve.
The new interpretation boards, sited on the Linklater Pavilion in the heart of the reserve, have filled this significant gap in the information people want when they come to the Railway Land. As well as telling them about the history of the site and the community involvement, they can find out about the wildlife they are likely to see here.
- Beachy Head Chaplaincy Improvements
£92,500 in CIL funding has been spent on upgrading and improving the facilities at Beachy Head for the combined services of the Police, the Chaplaincy and the Coastguards.
The projects aims were to modernise and expand this critical site for assisting vulnerable persons visiting the Beachy Head area,
The improvements have allowed the services to operate effectively to keep the public safe in an improved and fit for purpose facility.
Alongside the improved aesthetics and functionality of the building, the implementation of modern construction practices, improved mechanical and electrical installations and electric vehicle charging point for partner agency vehicles have all helped to reduce the building’s carbon footprint.
- Solar Panels for the Sylvia Beaufoy Centre
£50,000 in CIL funding has been spent at the Sylivia Beaufoy Centre in Petworth for the installation of solar panels on the roof.
The Sylvia Beaufoy Centre offers a range of open-access positive activities for young people aged 9 to 19. Sessions are arranged taking account of the needs and interests of the young people who attend the Centre from Petworth and the surrounding area and the aim is to give opportunities to all young people, to gain informal learning qualifications and skills for living.
The solar panel project provides a sustainable electricity supply for the Centre, reducing the Centre’s outgoings on electric and re diverting the saved money into the young people the centre supports.
- QECP Bike Base Project
Hampshire County Council were awarded £50,000 in CIL funding to be spent at Queen Elizabeth Country Park for their Bike Base project.
The projects aim was to make QECP a key cycling destination in the National Park. The project has built on QECP’s growing reputation for mountain biking and as a stopping point along the South Downs Way for cyclists. It has improved facilities and infrastructure for all cycling activities.
The improvements include a mini wheels track, mini wheels skills area, MTB skills and coaching area and a new lite blue MTB trail. There are also improvements to a former work depot to provide a base for an E-Bike hire business.
The tracks and trails were all completed by May 2023.
QECP worked closely with the bike volunteer group, QE Trail Collective, as well as the wider cycling community, MTB coaches, and representatives from British Cycling. All were involved in ongoing consultation and development of the project including the design of the tracks. The QE Trail Collective designed and constructed the new Lite Blue Trail.
A representative from QECP says “It’s good to see children on their bikes whizzing around the tracks and both the skills and coaching area are being well used. The designs sit well in the different areas and provide lots of opportunities for developing skills.”
For before and after photos of the project please click here.
- QECP Ponds, Bugs & Kids Project
Hampshire County Council were awarded £50,000 in CIL funding to be spent at Queen Elizabeth Country Park for the restoration of an existing pond and the creation of a fully accessible facility that the education team can use to provide nature activities for school groups and other interested parties
The works included the replacement of the pond liner, installation of fencing and a dipping platform and the removal of invasive plants. The new interpretation provides lots of information for visitors on the importance of ponds and the different wildlife that inhabit them. As wildlife returns to the pond and the new planting becomes more established the benefits to the surrounding environment will only increase.
Check out the project images here.
- Iping Common Access Improvements
Sussex Wildlife Trust were awarded £19,000 in CIL funding towards their access improvements project. The site has multiple entrances including from the car park with vehicular, bridleway and kissing gates. During the autumn and winter months the access points would become waterlogged.
10 entry points onto Iping and Stedham Commons were surfaced with a local stone in order to create dry, level access for visitors on foot, bicycle, and horseback. It also improved access and two major entry points for SWT and emergency vehicles. The result is much better accessibility onto the nature reserve for the public in all weathers throughout the year, and in addition these entry points are more aesthetically welcoming to visitors.
- West Ashling and Funtington District Hall Improvements Project
£30,000 in CIL funding has been spent on upgrading and improving the facilities at West Ashling and Funtington District Hall
The projects aims were to upgrade the kitchen and improve the energy efficiency of the building.
The project has enabled hall users to enjoy a much safer space and allow a greater range of activities to take place in the hall, which will be enjoyed by a greater range of people.
The hall now has a hygienic and safe kitchen, smoke detectors have been fitted together with new storage heaters a new hot water heater and the main entrance doors and the fire exist doors have been replaced making the hall safer and more secure.
- Sustainability Centre ‘Ready Steady Grow’ Project
£100,000 in CIL funding has been spent at the Sustainability Centre in Droxford for their ‘Ready, Steady, Grow’ project.
The project has transformed a derelict former MOD building to the South Downs Eco Lodge as an enabler to expanding facilities and services (sustainable education, eco-tourism, residential courses) and creating a new learning programme about eco-retrofitting and demonstrating a practical response to taking action at a local level to address the climate emergency.
The CIL funding was for the second phase of the project, which sees the transformation of the former medical block into a Learning Hub, with additional public and learning spaces.
Works to the roof of the new Learning Hub, to make the building water tight and well insulated and the replacement of the existing windows of the building with new triple glazed windows, to support the eco-retrofit of the building is now complete. A representative said “The triple glazed replacement windows have transformed what the building looks like, the quality of the indoor office spaces and the building energy performance.”
- Cockshut Chalk Stream
£150,000 in CIL funding was awarded to a partnership of Lewes District Council, the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust, South Downs National Park Authority and Lewes Railway Land Wildlife Trust for the regeneration of the Cockshut Chalk Stream in Lewes.
- Leaconfield Hall Improvements
£20,000 in CIL funding has been spent at the Leconfield Hall in Petworth to upgrade the seating in the upstairs auditorium.
Major works to the upstairs auditorium of the Hall took place previously to enable the Hall to open a community cinema in the multi-use community building. The cinema has been a great success both by involving many more local people and by boosting funds to maintain the Hall.
The award of CIL funding allowed the tired seating to be replaced and to include much needed hand rails on the raked seating.
- Fittleworth Tree Planting
Fittleworth Parish Council was awarded £1,500 in CIL funding for Tree Planting at Birchwalk Woods in Fittleworth.
The Birchwalk Woods Working Group have carried out clearance of invasive and undesirable vegetation growth, such as Holly, Bracken and Bramble, as well as self-seeded Birch saplings. The group has planted 130 saplings, mainly English Oak with some Rowan and Wild Cherry. In addition some Holly saplings have been transplanted to more appropriate locations. A new pathway has been created to improve access, but also to guide visitors away from the areas where the group is planting and habitat they want to protect. The work has been carried out by a mix of volunteers and contractors.
- Iford to Swanborough Cycle Way
The Iford Estate were awarded £26,000 in CIL funds to upgrade and extend the existing footpath between Iford and Swanborough to cycle path standard.
Iford and Swanborough are two closely linked settlements within the parish of Iford, with strong community ties between them. Being relatively isolated, particularly from public transport, residents have been dependant on cars to travel to work and school in Lewes and beyond. The muddy nature of the current footpath makes walking between the two settlements difficult for much of the year, meaning that residents often have to drive between them. The busy C7 road is fast, narrow and increasingly busy, making it dangerous for cyclists and has no pavement to allow walking.
The project has resurfaced the existing footpath (Iford 1b and Iford 2) with the same granite chipping surface that is used on the Egrets Way path. At the junction with Swanborough Drove the path follows the field edge to link with the existing Swanborough to Lewes path. The path follows an attractive and direct route across fields, whilst the final section runs close to the C7, but separated by a hedge.
- Meonstoke Infant School Outdoor Education Space
Meonstoke C of E Infant School were awarded £18,000 in CIL funding to improve a wooded area and bark pathways within the school grounds.
The projects aims were to provide year round access to outside play, exercise and learning. The project has provided:
- Improved wooded pathways around the edge of the site
- Wellie boot storage
- Installation of a covered outside learning area
- Installation of a bird watching station and bug house
- Fencing and gateway to cordon off safe dry outside areas enabling safe outdoor activities for longer periods of the year
- East Meon MUGA Improvements
East Meon Parish Council were awarded £7,500 in CIL funding to help rejuvenate the existing community Multi Use Games Area (MUGA).
The project was to remove the old surface and lay a replacement, then re-paint tennis
lines, basketball lines and 5-a-side football lines.
The project was completed in August 2023 and the local community have commented on the improvement in the playing surface. The court is now regularly booked by all members of the community.
- Liss Recreation Ground Play Area Improvements
Liss Parish Council were awarded £40,000 in CIL funding to help rejuvenate the Play Area at Liss Forest Recreation Ground.
The Parish Council recently invested just over £25,000 on a replacement multi-play unit in the Liss Forest children’s play area which was in much need of upgrade. This left several other items in need of replacement:
The SDNPA CIL award allowed for the replacement of the toddler swing set, junior swing set, plus an additional bay to the junior swings for a cradle swing, springer and roundabout, and the safety surfacing was extended to link the equipment and make the area much more user friendly (and less muddy!).
The result is that Liss Forest now has a modern and attractive play area with even greater play value and which is more accessible to users.
- Petersfield Open Air Swimming Pool Improvements
£50,000 in CIL funding has been spent at Petersfield Open Air Swimming Pool to upgrade the facilities for all visitors, thereby significantly improving the customer experience.
The toilets, shower blocks, changing cubicles, disabled unit and roofing structure have all been fully refurbished to a very high standard and completed in time for the 2024 opening season.
Local contractors updated the plumbing, electrics and hot water storage to save energy, reduce water consumption and simplify ongoing maintenance. They were also able to install new sanitary ware, tiles, taps, mirror and showers in all toilets using donated and grant-funded materials.
On 20 June 2024 POASP were awarded the Petersfield Society Annual Owl Award for the refurbishment.
