Rural England Prosperity Fund
The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) is a top-up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for rural areas, administered by Defra. The funding supported capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure which improves productivity and strengthens the rural economy and local communities.
Stroud District Council was awarded £400,000 over two years 2023-24 to 2024-25. REPF was extended for a third and final year in 2025-26 with an allocation of £120,261. Applications were open to businesses and community groups in eligible rural areas for grants to support capital projects, such as building work, large tools, and equipment. Applications are now closed. A full list of grants is available below.
REPF grants supported projects within the following categories:
• Growing the local social economy and supporting innovation
• Small scale investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas
• The development and promotion of the visitor economy
• Existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions which make up the local cultural heritage offer
• Local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities
• Investment in capacity building and infrastructure support for local civil society and community groups
• Rural circular economy projects
• Impactful volunteering and social action projects to develop social and human capital
• Investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities
• Creation of and improvements to local rural green space
• Active travel enhancements in the local area
Grants were between £3,000 - £20,000 with 60% match funding, or £3,000 - £10,000 with no match funding.
Stroud District Council distributed the funds in alignment with the objectives set out in the Council Plan and the Economic Development Strategy, including those relating to Environment & Climate Change, Support for Businesses, and Community Resilience and Wellbeing.
REPF grants 2023/24 - 2024/25
| Organisation | Project | Grant | Area |
| Synwell Playing Field Association | Play Equipment Repair | £6116.96 | Wotton under Edge |
| Bisley & Lypiatt Parish Council | Eastcombe Play Area Upgrade | £7,110 | Bussage |
| Hinton Parish Council | Half Pipe Refurbishment | £10,000 | Hinton |
| Synwell Playing Field Association | New Benches | £3,318 | Wotton under Edge |
|
Waterlane Community Orchard |
Orchard Project | £5,333.25 | Waterlane |
| The Chantry Centre |
Access Lift |
£9,706.80 | Dursley |
| Hawkwood College | Guest Accommodation Refurbishment | £10,000 | Stroud, GL6 |
| 1st Wotton-under-Edge Scout Group | Conygres Development | £20,000 | Wotton under Edge |
| Arlingham Parish Council | Medieval Pound Restoration | £3,025 | Arlingham |
| Berkeley Town Council | Town Hall Stonework Repairs | £4,478.40 | Berkeley |
| Woodchester Mansion | Café / Bat Watching Facilities | £3,075.40 | Nympsfield |
| Whitminster Village Hall | New Pavilion Project | £20,000 | Whitminster |
| Wotton Community Sports Foundation | The New Barn | £20,000 | Wotton under Edge |
| Wotton Historical Society | Museum Data Development | £3,000 | Wotton under Edge |
| Nailsworth Town Council | Miles Marling Field Path | £6,000 | Nailsworth |
| Gloucestershire County Council | Railway / Cycle Trail Car Park | £9,790 | Nailsworth |
| Stinchcombe Village Hall | Renovations | £20,000 | Stinchcombe |
| Jubilee Field Management Committee | Hopkins Hall Kitchen Refurbishment | £6,134 | Hillesley |
| Pitchcombe Village Hall | Kitchen Refurbishment | £11,836 | Pitchcombe |
| Transition Stroud |
Ebike Pilot Project |
£4,565.67 | Nailsworth |
| Edge Village Hall |
Kitchen Extension & Refurbishment |
£10,000 | Edge |
| Horsley Cycling & Walking Project |
Cycling Storage Facility |
£5,712 | Horsley |
| Common Soil |
Farm & Event Equipment |
£9,476.50 | Stroud, Slad Ln |
| Berkeley Books / GL12 |
External Fencing & Construction - new community centre |
£20,000 | Berkeley |
| Great Oldbury Parish Council |
Community Centre Equipment |
£5,000 | Great Oldbury |
| Chalford Sports & Social Club |
Solar Panels |
£19,540 | Chalford |
| Slimbridge Parish Council |
Air Source Heat Pump for Village Hall |
£14,976.82 | Slimbridge |
| GL11 |
Sustainable Infrastructure Upgrades |
£19,600 | Cam |
| Berkeley Town Council |
Marybrook Car Park Extension |
£13,158.86 | Berkeley |
| Electric Picture House Cinema |
New Projector |
£10,626 | Wotton under Edge |
| Practical Intelligence |
Solar Panels |
£3,580 | Nailsworth |
| Aberlink Ltd |
Machine Shop Expansion |
£20,000 | Bussage |
| Puddleducks Nursery |
New Classroom Space |
£10,000 | Chalford |
| Teckels |
Solar Panels |
£6,004.57 | Whitminster |
| Gloucestershire House Clearances |
White Goods Recycling Project |
£7,829 | Minchinhampton |
| The Fleece |
Community Pub Renovations |
£20,000 | Hillesley |
|
Worgans Woodland Farm |
Woodland Infrastructure Upgrade; Water, Electric & Solar |
£20,000 | Stroud |
REPF Current Projects 2025-26
| Organisation | Project | Grant | Area |
| Agri-Eco Health Ltd | Superheated Steam System Product Launch | £7,800 | Cam |
| Cam Parish Council | Jubilee Rec Ground Access Improvements | £20,000 | Cam |
| Chalford Community Stores | Solar Panels | £5,004 | Chalford |
| Dursley Bowls Club | Clubhouse Renovations | £17,600 | Dursley |
| Dursley Town Council | Dursley Rec Ground Accessible Toilets | £20,000 | Dursley |
| Leonard Stanley Parish Council | Park Car Parking Improvements | £14,332 | Leonard Stanley |
| Nympsfield Community Pub | Purchase of Rose & Crown | £20,000 | Nympsfield |
| Stinchcombe Village Hall | Disabled Access | £5,077 | Stinchcombe |
| The Glass Foundry | New Mezzanine | £10,000 | Dursley |
The map below provides further details on all the projects which were awarded Rural England Prosperity Fund grants in 2022-23, 2023-24 & 2025-26.
A number of grants were awarded from the capital element of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation using the same process as the REPF grants. For details of those projects please see the UKSPF page.
Contact Economic Development
Economic Development
Stroud District Council
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Stroud
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