City of Westminster (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Westminster Labour allocates over £590,000 in NCIL funds, boosting local projects and infrastructure in communities across the city’s wards.
This most recent round of financing demonstrates our dedication to a Fairer Westminster for all, from safer schools and sustainable transportation to youth hubs and greener public areas.
Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said:
“These projects show what Labour in power looks like: practical, community-led investment that improves daily life for residents. Whether it’s greener spaces, safer schools or inclusive youth facilities, we’re making sure Westminster’s development benefits everyone.”
Mount Street Gardens in Mayfair will develop into a space for introspection and communal gathering. The Nature Sacred initiative will support the renovation of the gardens and the installation of three “Sacred Place” benches, each of which will have a journal for locals and guests to record their ideas and experiences. Offering peace and connection in the center of the city, it’s a little investment with a significant social benefit.
In the meanwhile, Mayfair’s art installations will come to life thanks to a new power connection for public art lighting in Berkeley Square, which will also lessen the need for polluting temporary lights and increase the area’s nighttime vibrancy.
Funding has been obtained for the initial phase of Formosa Street pedestrianization in Little Venice and Maida Vale. Soon, the 60-meter section might be transformed into a friendly, traffic-free public area. Based on a high-level design, the feasibility study, which is entirely sponsored by NCIL, will involve resident and stakeholder participation. The research will look at the best ways to encourage local businesses, foot traffic, and active transport.
Westminster youth services will receive electric minibuses from two projects. One for the London Tigers, which helps young people in Marylebone and Ebury Bridge, and another for the Feathers Marylebone Youth & Community Club. In order to keep vulnerable kids and teenagers safe, active, and connected, these zero-emission cars will increase their access to off-site activities.
Additionally, £25,000 has been granted to renovate the gym and music equipment at the London Tigers Youth Hub in Westbourne. More than 100 teenage residents will find the Hub to be a more welcoming and motivating place with new DJ equipment, sensory aids, laptops for a homework club, and more.
This round of NCIL financing will help three schools:
- To enhance instruction and safety, 180 antiquated staff PCs at St Marylebone CE School will be replaced with safe, energy-efficient models.
- A new CCTV system will be installed at St. Clement Danes CE Primary in St. James’s to increase security and combat antisocial behavior on the property.
- In order to create a haven for neighborhood kids in one of the city’s most congested areas, Soho Parish CE Primary will convert its concrete playground into a biodiverse, inclusive garden and play area.
Contributions from real estate developers, who are compensated based on the quantity of additional floorspace they construct, make up the NCIL fund. The funds are going to the people and causes that are most important because of the leadership of Labour. Projects that truly enhance neighborhood life are selected with community involvement.
They will continue to work hard to ensure that every pound is spent prudently, investing in safe, green, and equitable infrastructure for all of our inhabitants, with over £13 million still available across neighbourhood areas.
How does this funding round fit into Westminster Labour’s broader strategy for community development?
This current funding round from the Neighbourhood portions of the Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) fits squarely into Westminster Labour’s broader Fairer Westminster strategy, which focuses on creating more equitable, sustainable, and community-led improvements across the borough.
The funding backs local initiatives such as youth hubs, greener public spaces, and safer schools—mirroring the council’s emphasis on empowering residents to shape their neighbourhoods rather than imposing top-down solutions.
Through schemes like the Greening Westminster programme, which this funding supports, the council aims to create healthier, more welcoming public spaces, turning grey urban areas into green, sustainable environments as part of its commitment to a fairer, cleaner Westminster.