Funding approved for new community ‘eco’ park and games areas in the Vale
Published on Monday 28 July 2025
Green spaces, play and games areas in the Vale of White Horse will get a boost this month, with almost £350,000 in funding agreed.
This month, £157,094 has been earmarked towards creating a new community ‘eco’ play park in Steventon.
With the funding now agreed, Steventon Parish Council plan to develop the park on land they own next to St Michael’s Primary School playing field. The park will feature 18 new trees, chosen for their sustainability, a wildflower meadow, bug hotels and damp zones for amphibians and mammals. Play equipment will be created from sustainably sourced hardwood and surfaces from ‘bouncy bark’ which is permeable and made from recycled car tyres, and self-binding gravel. Where possible, suppliers will be sought from the surrounding area.
Over in Drayton, £189,728 has been approved towards a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) at Walnut Meadow. The MUGA , which is being commissioned by Drayton Parish Council, will cater for sports where a hard court is needed, for example five a side football, basketball, tennis, netball and informal play. The site around the edge of the MUGA will be a mixture of mown grassland, wildflower grassland and a wetland wildflower mix, both of which will aid with biodiversity and ecological habitat.
At its meeting on Thursday 16 July, Council agreed to the recommendation to fund both projects through Section 106 contributions.
Cllr Mark Coleman, Vale of White Horse’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “Investing in good quality leisure and sports facilities across the Vale remains a top priority for the council. Here are two excellent examples of new facilities that will provide valuable spaces for play and exercise for years to come. This will deliver new sports and recreational facilities close to where people live – contributing to the community’s health and wellbeing.”
Since last October, the council has invested over £1.9 million in vital infrastructure delivered by the county council, district council, town and parish councils and other community organisations.
Cllr Coleman added: “The funding for Steventon and Drayton are just two good examples of the significant investments we are making across the district through the Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy we collect from developers. Other investments over the last year have ranged from installing air source heat pumps and solar panels, to public art, bus shelters, skate park repairs, allotment works and gym equipment and tennis courts.”
As the local planning authority, the council collects financial contributions in the form of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 (S106) – this is the funding from housing developers to support the growth of the district when new developments are created.
S106 funding approved towards community projects between 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025 has totalled £1,804,317. During this six-month period the council has also transferred £163,227 of CIL to town and parish councils that have experienced CIL liable development in their area.
Find out more about CIL here and S106 here.
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