£90,000 to support community projects near Gateway 14

16/12/25

Community organisations located near the Gateway 14 development are being offered a funding boost to help launch and grow local projects.

The new Gateway 14 Community Benefit Fund will support community groups to deliver activities that make a meaningful difference in their area, with £30,000 available each year for the next three years.

Organisations based within a five-mile radius of Gateway 14 can apply for funding to cover revenue or capital costs, with these grants able to fund up to 100% of total project expenditure.

The scope of the fund is broad, and projects will be considered if they align with at least one of the fund’s priority themes – skills and education, sustainability, environment, innovation or sport.

The funding window is now open and organisations can apply for up to £5,000 to support their projects.

Cllr Teresa Davis, Mid Suffolk District Council cabinet member for thriving communities, said: “Gateway 14 continues to drive economic growth in our area, but it’s always been important to us to ensure that surrounding communities grow with it. I encourage all nearby communities to consider whether they have a project planned which could benefit from a funding injection like this. Whether it’s helping people develop new skills, keeping your community fit and healthy with activity sessions, or anything in between, there are so many different schemes that could be eligible to receive a boost.”

Funding for the scheme is being provided by Gateway 14 Ltd – a private company controlled by Mid Suffolk District Council.

Sir Christopher Haworth, chairman of Gateway 14 Ltd, said: “We are pleased to be supporting the Community Benefit Fund. It is very important that the benefits of a development like Gateway 14 are felt across the local area, to bring prosperity and growth and deliver regeneration. This fund is a very important part of that process, and we hope that a wide range of projects will benefit from it.”

The launch of the Gateway 14 Community Benefit Fund follows the recent opening of the new Bauder distribution centre at the site in July, which will soon be joined by Turkish-owned building materials producer Assan Panel.

Meanwhile, construction continues to progress on the £18million, three-storey Stowmarket Innovation Gateway – a 35,000 sq ft state-of-the-art skills and innovation centre owned by Mid Suffolk District Council. The centre will provide office space for high-growth start-ups, collaboration and innovation areas, training and meeting rooms, and a café.

The deadline for applications for the first round of funding is 1 March 2026. To find out all the details, or submit an application, visit the Mid Suffolk District Council community funding page.