COMMUNITY facilities in Popley and Sherborne St John will receive nearly £300,000 from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The money from central Government's New Homes Bonus Scheme is allocated to local authorities for a six-year period, given yearly for communities which have seen an increase in house building.

The Local Infrastructure Fund aims to deliver “larger ticket” facilities and infrastructure improvements of over £25,000 and the projects have to make a significant and long-lasting impact on the local community. However, applications for funding below £25,000 can also be considered.

Councillor Ranil Jayawardena, the deputy leader of the borough council and Cabinet member for strategy, has, under delegated powers, approved a number of applications to the fund to finance improvement projects.

This includes £125,000 for an extension to St Gabriel’s Church community hall, in Tewkesbury Close, up to £122,500 for improvement works, including a new community cafe, redecoration, disabled access and solar panels at Popley Fields Community Centre, in Carpenters Down and up to £7,500 for a feasibility study for an extension and restructure of the Melrose Community Hall, in Abbey Road.

Sherborne St John Parish Council is set to receive up to £30,000 to re-fence and edge the tennis courts and decorate and provide new storage facilities at Chute Pavilion. in Vyne Road.

In the report, Cllr Jayawardena said: “This decision proposes allocating £285,500 towards communities based in the north of Basingstoke.

“It is right that improvements are made across both Popley and Sherborne St John, rather than only within the area of recent housing development itself, as this ensures that the community as a whole benefits from development in the borough.”