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 These committees are no longer active, so the executive councillor will decide which future projects to fund following consultation with all ward Councillors.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
| Application round | Project name | Project description | Status and delivery target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | Improving biodiversity - East Road/ St Matthew’s housing area | Wildflowers/ grasses to be planted in public space | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end Summer 2025 |
| 2022/23 | 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 | Status: Project investigation/ engagement. Delivery target: by end Autumn 2025 |
| 2022/23 | A community garden on Peverel Road | Greenspace between Nos. 40-60 Peverel Road to be improved to reduce impact of vehicular damage | Status: Project scoping. Delivery target: by end Spring 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Rainwater collection for Millennium Gardens, Petersfield | Harness and recycle surface water discharge from council owned building and store for community usage | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by early 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Creating spaces for people to meet on Coleridge Recreation Ground | Picnic benches and cycle racks to be installed | Status: Local engagement. Delivery target: by end 2024 |
| 2023/24 | New planters around Equiano pedestrian/ cycle bridge over River Cam. | Plant pollinators in containers near the footings of the Equiano Bridge | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end Autumn 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Extend the successful ‘Green the Streets’ scheme in Petersfield ward- 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 and Glisson Roads | Status: Project implementation. Delivery target: by end 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Norfolk Street/ Mill Road Cemetery entrance blind corner needs` safety measures | Safety measures at the northern passageway entrance to Mill Road cemetery | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end Spring 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Additional community notice board in North Petersfield | Community notice board for St Matthew’s Piece | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end Winter 2024/25 |
| 2023/24 | 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 | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end Autumn 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Aberdeen Avenue garden, Accordia, or similar location greening | Replanting of dead hedge species along with a practical solution to rainwater re-harvesting | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end Autumn 2025 |
| 2023/24 | 2 x community information noticeboards in Romsey | New notice boards near the Co-op and on Romsey Recreation Ground | Status: Local engagement. Delivery target: by end Winter 2024/25 |
North area
| Application round | Project name | Project description | Status and delivery target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | Biodiversity and social interaction improvements to Green End Road Recreation Ground | Install benches and biodiversity improvements to green space | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end Autumn 2025 |
| 2022/23 | Restore bench(es) at the 'Cyclops' junction of Histon/ Gilbert Roads | Reinstall bench lost due to junction reconfiguration works | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by early 2025 |
| 2022/23 | Create a community haven on Green End Road, East Chesterton | Landscaping to promote biodiversity around Methodist Church and proposed community café. Awaiting Church committee decision on landscaping implementation | Status: Project engagement. Delivery target: by Summer 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Water Street, Chesterton Preservation Plan | Restoring and managing bug hotels, creating wildlife corridors, planting wildflower meadow and promoting opportunities to engage with nature | Status: Engaging landowners for consent. Delivery target: by Spring 2025 |
| 2023/24 | 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 | Status: Project local engagement. Delivery target: by Spring 2025 |
| 2023/24 | 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 | Status: Project engagement. Delivery target: by end Autumn 2025 |
| 2023/24 | 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 | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end Spring 2025 |
South area
| Application round | Project name | Project description | Status and delivery target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | Installation of drinking fountain in Hobson’s Square, Trumpington | Drinking fountain unviable, but external tap to be provided at Clay Farm Community Centre | Status: Project mobilisation. Delivery target: by Spring 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Reclaiming green spaces on Church End/ Rosemary Lane through tree planting | Plant new trees and bushes along the verges on Church End, Cherry Hinton | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end of 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Growing ‘Nightingale Garden Community' by increasing biodiversity and engagement | A series of improvements that promote biodiversity | Status: Project engagement. Delivery target: by Spring 2025 |
West/ Central area
| Application round | Project name | Project description | Status and delivery target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/20 | Adam & Eve Street/ Paradise Street corner environmental enhancements | Re-landscaping and biodiversity enhancements | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end Autumn 2025 |
| 2022/23 | 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 | Status: Detailed design with review of costs and benefits. Delivery target: by end Summer 2025 (if viable and dependent on planning approval) |
| 2023/24 | 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 | Status: project engagement. Delivery target: by end Spring 2025 |
| 2023/24 | 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 | Status: Project engagement. Delivery target: by end Spring 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Enhance biodiversity at St Clement’s Church yard on Bridge Street | Creating a ‘Biodiversity Hub’ in the church yard, to promote interest in the local ecosystem and provide resources such as plants and seeds to enrich resident’s gardens | Status: Project engagement. Delivery target: by end Spring 2025 (planning approval permitting) |
Strategic projects
| Application round | Project name | Project description | Status and delivery target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/20 | Coleridge street tree and verge protection | Extension of the Perne Road verge protection scheme trial to neighboring Coleridge streets | Status: Review of scope, benefits and practicality. Delivery target: TBC |
| 2019/20 | Silver Street - river bridge streetscape enhancement | Public realm enhancements to be undertaken alongside redevelopment of public toilets | Status: Project design. Delivery target: by end Summer 2025 |
| 2022/23 | St Matthew’s Pieces - Improving biodiversity | Biodiversity improvements identified through local open space management plan. | Status: Project engagement. Delivery target: by end Autumn 2025 |
| 2022/23 | Create community gardens, increase biodiversity and beautify Tiverton estate | Increase biodiversity whilst making it a more welcoming and attractive area, with easy to maintain planting plus spaces for local food growing | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: by end Autumn 2025 |
| 2023/24 | Increase biodiversity and tree cover along Cherry Hinton Road | Cherry Hinton Road particularly west of Perne Road lacks greenery. Aspiration is to plant 3 trees into new engineered tree pits | Status: Project investigation. Delivery target: Autumn/ Winter 2025/26 |
| 2023/24 | Greening Gilbert Road through tree planting | Planting or 1 or 2 two trees, with requisite tree pit infrastructure in the hard landscaped verge adjacent the new Aparthotel. Extension to previously committed project. | Status: Local engagement. Delivery target: by end Winter 2024/25 |
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.
