AN ambitious sports development is to receive almost £50,000 from a special council fund which supports community projects.

Kendal Rugby Union Football Club will receive the funding as part of South Lakeland District Council’s latest round of Locally Important Projects or LIPs grants.

The money will go towards phase two of the creation of state-of-the-art facilities at the club’s new Mint Bridge ground, helping to support a range of sporting activities.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Stephen Green, chairman of Kendal RUFC, said: “We are very grateful to the council for this very generous donation. It will help us to fund a project which will become a great community asset, providing facilities for local sporting clubs who do not have a permanent home.”

The rugby club’s application is one of 16 new LIPs grants approved by SLDC worth £287,000.

LIPs money is allocated through the New Homes Bonus, where the government matches the council tax raised for new homes and properties brought back into use.

Community groups, clubs and organisations such as local town and parish councils are eligible to apply.

SLDC Leader, Councillor Giles Archibald, said: “These grants are proving to be a popular and highly effective way of supporting some excellent projects, such as the Kendal RUFC development, which helps local organisations and communities to achieve real results.

“The growing success of LIPs grants resulted in 40 applications this time around, that is a record number since this type of funding began four years ago.”

Since 2013 SLDC has awarded 72 LIPs grants worth almost £1 million.

The grants support SLDC’s Council Plan priorities on the environment, housing, supporting the local economy, health and wellbeing.

For more details and how to apply go to grants section of the council’s website at www.southlakeland.gov.uk