Greening Westminster

Greening Westminster is an annual grant funding programme designed to improve and increase Westminster’s green infrastructure and open spaces. 

The programme seeks to continue connecting with and empowering community groups across the borough to ensure fairer access to high-quality green spaces. 

The programme has three key objectives - to improve and increase the:

• Quantity of green assets across the city
• Quality of our open spaces and green infrastructure
• Impact of our green assets, delivering a range of benefits to individuals, communities, and the environment.

These objectives are achieved through:

• a partnership approach
• community-focused projects

Document

Greening Westminster FAQ's sheet PDF, 178.99 KB, 4 pages

The Greening Westminster fund is open to various applicants, such as community groups, neighbourhood forums, Business Improvements Districts (BIDs), and internal council departments. Every applicant will be asked to submit an expression of interest form to help determine which of the following categories they fall into: 

• Greening Westminster Communities
• Greening Westminster Professionals 

Grants are awarded based on criteria shaped by our Climate Action Plan and the Fairer Westminster vision. This means that proposals are selected both on their proposed contribution to the planet as well as their contribution to people and communities. 

The Greening Westminster funding will prioritise projects: 

• that focus on community greening projects that serve and strengthen local community groups
• have a clear maintenance and management strategy to ensure the longevity of the project
• that can demonstrate additional support from volunteer time and community buy-in 

To be eligible to apply for Greening Westminster funding, you must meet the following criteria: 

• the project site must be publicly accessible
• the project site must be in Westminster
• the project must be completed within one year following the award of the grant
• future management and maintenance must be considered (please note this grant funding cannot be used for maintenance)
• the project's environmental impact has been considered, and appropriate measures have been taken to reduce the carbon footprint, ensure climate resilience, and improve ecology and biodiversity

To make the Greening Westminster funding programme more accessible to community and resident groups, we have developed a supportive two-stage application process. 

• Stage 1 – submit an expression of interest form to determine your funding category.
• Stage 2 – receive support and submit an application.

Before applying, you will be asked to submit an expression of interest form. If your application falls into Greening Westminster Communities, you will be offered special support to develop your application and increase your chances of getting a funding grant approved. 

Greening Westminster Communities applicants can register for a one-to-one feedback session with council officers who will offer constructive feedback on the proposal before submission. These sessions will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis so early registration is advised.