Cleve Hill Community Benefit Fund

The Cleve Hill Solar Park is owned and managed by Private Energy Partners (PEP).

The Community Benefit Fund is now open to applications. Over the next eight years, a total of £500,000 will be awarded to community initiatives that make a real difference to local people.

Project locations

Projects must benefit residents of the following parishes in Kent:

• Graveney with Goodnestone
• Hernhill

The Cleve Hill Community Benefit Fund is intended to prioritise projects nearer the development site (i.e. in the Parish of Graveney and Goodnestone). Hernhill Parish is included due to areas within of the Parish being also concerned by the development. To help clarify this objective and to assist the Advisory Panel when considering applications, the following will apply:

The Fund will be allocated between the two Parishes on a 15% / 85% basis in favour of Graveney and Goodnestone Parish. The Advisory Panel retains the flexibility to adjust these percentages as needed, provided that Hernhill receives a minimum of 15% of the total pot over the duration of the eight-year Fund.

The allocations are not restricted to the percentages at each funding round. As grants are awarded, these website pages will show the remaining funds per pot so organisations are aware of how much they can potentially apply for, ahead of each application closing date.

If an application is supported by the Advisory Panel that benefits the communities of both Parishes, a proportional amount will be allocated from each pot based on the number of beneficiaries that project supports in each Parish.

Interest generated over the 8 years from the principal sum will be allocated to each pot annually at the 15% / 85% ratio respectively.

The first round of allocations completed in December 2025:

The remaining funding (excluding interest) for each area is as follows:

• Graveney and Goodnestone: £367,711
• Hernhill: £32,289

Deadline

Grant Amounts

• Years 1 & 2: £100,000 per year (£50,000 per round for 2026)
• Grants available: from £250 up to £50,000
• Years 3 to 8: £50,000 per year
• Grants available: from £250 up to £50,000

Decisions – Local Advisory Panel

Applications will be reviewed by a local Advisory Panel to help decide how the grants will be allocated from the Fund.

The Advisory Panel comprises of the following:

• 2 Representatives from Graveney and Goodnestone Parish Council
• 1 Representative of Hernhill Parish Council
• 1 Ward Cllr from Swale Borough Council
• 3 Residents of Goodnestone and Graveney Parish
• 1 Representative of Hernhill Primary School

Grants Awarded

For details of grants awarded to date, please click here