• Swindon & Wiltshire Community champions
• Monday July 1 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Bristol Airport launches 2024 community fund for neighbours

Bristol Airport has launched a new Local Community Fund to support projects and community groups in the local area that are most affected by the airport’s operations.

The Airport Environmental and Amenity Improvement Fund was set up as one of the commitments the airport agreed to provide in connection with the planning permission for development.

Each year, Bristol Airport will contribute £100,000 to the Bristol Airport Local Community Fund.

The fund’s management committee meets on a quarterly basis and includes representatives from both the airport and North Somerset Council, and is independently chaired.

Any community ventures that fit the criteria are encouraged to apply for the next wave of grants. The type of projects that would benefit include:

• Schemes which improve, enhance, protect and conserve the natural environment within the vicinity of the airport.
• Noise mitigation for non-residential buildings.
• Traffic implications associated with an increase in passengers using the airport.
• Any other projects/schemes which can demonstrate they will help mitigate an environmental and/or amenity impact that can be attributed to the airport expanding.

Last year, a record amount of funding was donated to help local projects from Bristol Airport’s Local Community Fund with over £220,000 granted to support community schemes, making it the highest amount ever granted in a year.

In total, 62 individual projects benefited from the fund with grants ranging from £500 to £15,000 in 2023. Since 2012, Bristol Airport has donated over £1.6 million.