Place based investment programme FAQs

The PBIP is a capital fund and only capital expenditure will be applicable. Previous successful projects can be found in  our Canva: PBIP Brochure.

Due to the reduction of funding and high demand, the PBIP maximum request is limited to £100,000 unless there are exceptional circumstances that must be fully justified with significant match-funding.

Community funding is available to help groups.

• costs from works such as contractor’s invoices and materials
• professional fees are eligible if directly linked to funding eligible works as follows:
  • architect
  • surveyor
  • structural engineer and agent fees
• statutory consent fees such as for:
  • planning permission
  • advertisement consent
  • listed building consent
  • building warrant fees (please note that fees are only funding eligible where these are linked to works, fees are not an eligible cost in isolation)
• can be used as match funding from other sources

The funding does not cover:

• administration costs of the organisation applying
• feasibility studies
• retrospective work (please do not start your project until you receive confirmation that you have been successful)
• for public sector bodies this fund cannot be used for works already planned within the capital programme

Capital expenditure is money spent by an organisation on purchasing a fixed asset such as land, buildings or equipment, which adds to the value of an existing fixed asset.

A broad definition of what falls within capital expenditure is the:

• acquisition, reclamation, enhancement or laying out of land, exclusive of roads, buildings and other structures
• acquisition, construction, preparation, enhancement or replacement of roads, buildings and other structures
• acquisition, installation or replacement of moveable or immovable plant, machinery and apparatus and vehicles and vessels

Enhancement in relation to any asset means the carrying out of works that are intended to:

• lengthen substantially the useful life of the asset
• increase substantially the open market value of the asset
• increase substantially the extent to which the asset can or will be used

Some examples of expenditure which are not capital expenditure include:

• the cost of leasing vehicles
• cyclical painting of buildings
• the purchase of equipment below £6,000 in value
• the repair of a damaged roof, although the replacement of the whole roof may be considered to be allowable
• feasibility costs of a proposed capital project
• the cost of an opening ceremony of a newly built or refurbished building
• publicity costs of a new building
• training of staff to use a new piece of equipment

Critically, projects are required to be committed by way of a signed contract for works, before the end of March 2026 with work completed by March 2027.

We welcome applications for projects that are already in development or if your project is already ongoing but has a new element to it.

It is crucial that you are aware that this fund will not cover retrospective work only work that happens after and if you receive approval.

For further information please visit Contracts and projects assessments.

Section three of the Guidance for application lists the strategic links for the relevant PBIP objectives.