Norwich City Council has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a £5 billion Pride in Place programme, which will see long-term investment in communities across the country — including several key neighbourhoods in Norwich.
The programme aims to give local people greater control over how funding is spent - from reviving high streets and restoring parks, to breathing new life into pubs, leisure centres and community halls.
Heartsease, Pilling Park, Bowthorpe and West Earlham have been named among the areas set to benefit. All four are part of Norwich’s Reducing Inequality Target Areas, where the council is working closely with residents to improve access to opportunities, strengthen community assets, and create safer, greener public spaces.
Councillor Kidman, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “This announcement is a powerful endorsement of the work communities are already doing to build a fairer, more vibrant Norwich. The Pride in Place programme reflects the values at the heart of our Community-Led Plan - putting local people in control and investing in the places that matter most to them.
“We’re especially pleased to see support directed to Heartsease, Pilling Park, Bowthorpe and West Earlham - all of which we have identified as areas in need of targeted investment. These are neighbourhoods where residents have been striving to bring about positive change for a long time, and this funding will help accelerate that progress.
“With this investment, we can continue to build a city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive – driven by the people who know their communities best.”
Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: “Building pride in place starts with people, not politics. Local people know what they want to see in their neighbourhoods – and they don’t need government to dictate it.
“This plan will spark an historic grassroots movement that will restore local people’s power, boost national pride and help people get on in life across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.”
Details on how the funding will be allocated and when it will be available are still to be confirmed. Norwich City Council will continue to work with government partners to understand the next steps and ensure that local voices are central to the process.
The funding forms part of the Government’s Plan for Change, a decade-long mission to support grassroots renewal and give communities the tools they need to shape their own futures.
Norwich City Council will keep residents informed as more information becomes available and will work closely with community groups and partners to ensure the funding delivers meaningful, lasting impact — aligned with the priorities set out in the city’s Community-Led Plan.
