Projects & Proposals
Parish Infrastructure Investment Plan
Parish councils can receive funding for infrastructure projects from a number of sources including the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). As a result of this, it can be helpful for a council to develop a Parish Infrastructure Investment Plan (PIIP). This is a document that enables councils to identify and prioritise the infrastructure needs of the community and how future spending should be allocated.
Why create a PIIP?
PIIPs can help parish councils to:
• Identify the infrastructure and investment needs of their community
• Provide an evidence base for spending decisions on locally identified priorities
• Identify sources of funding and opportunities for matching funding streams to make
the most efficient use of income
• Assist with external funding bids - providing evidence of local investment needs and
priorities
• Provide transparency to local communities - explain where local investment is being
targeted
• Encourage engagement by members of the community who use / will use the
facilities and services being delivered
• Provide a local perspective to help the district council gain a better understanding of
local priorities
What is Infrastructure?
There are generally 3 broad groups or types of infrastructure:
• Physical infrastructure: highways, transport links, cycleways, energy supply, water,
flood alleviation, waste management
• Social infrastructure: education, health, social care, emergency services, art and
culture, sports halls and pitches, community halls
• Green infrastructure: parks, woodlands, play areas, public open space
How should the PIIP be evidenced?
The PIIP should be evidence-based, identifying current existing infrastructure, and assessing
the impact of new development and also changes in demographics on this infrastructure.
Sometimes this process can also identify gaps in infrastructure provision, for example
identified growth in the numbers young or older people but a lack of facilities for them
locally.
As infrastructure investment decisions affect all members of a community, the parish
council should make efforts to engage with as many people as possible in the process.
The PIIP should also be responsive to changes in development and infrastructure. So that it
remains a reliable tool for decision-making, we recommend a PIIP is reviewed at least once
every three years.
The Martlesham Parish Council PIIP (Approved March 2026) can be viewing here: Martlesham Parish Council PIIP