After a successful initial round of funding, community groups in Edinburgh are again being asked to bid for grants to enhance the New Waverley development site area in the Old Town while it is under construction.

The New Waverley Community Fund (NWCF) is a joint project between the City of Edinburgh Council and Artisan Real Estate Investors, the developers of New Waverley. The total fund available is £200,000 including £100,000 held by the council from the former developer.

Bids of up to £25,000 from not-for-profit organisations will be accepted and the New Waverley Working Group is keen to work with those who can engage the local community with their projects. The fund is open now and closes on Sunday, 31 July 2016.

The initial round of funding paid out to six projects including a community garden, an art installation and a project celebrating the literary history of the area. This involved the unveiling of a 10-metre illuminated art work above the Waverley Arches by movie director and Monty Python star Terry Gilliam as part of the Words on the Street project run by Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust.

Approximately £110,000 was allocated in the initial round, leaving £90,000 for future bids.

Convenor of the economy committee, Cllr Gavin Barrie, said. “New Waverley is creating jobs, apprenticeships, boosting the economy and enhancing a sense of community in what was previously a neglected gap site. It is very encouraging to see that work is well underway and several businesses are now built and operational. I would encourage groups to be creative with their projects and bid for the funding, which will really help those in the local area as well as visitors through the construction phase.”

Clive Wilding, project director for Artisan Real Estate Investors, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real, positive and long-lasting difference to the Old Town community as part of New Waverley’s overall transformation of the area. We already have some really interesting projects currently taking place from the first round of funding and they are adding to the excitement of New Waverley as it starts to take shape this year. With new hotels opening and more brilliant businesses coming into The Arches, there is a lot going on right now so it’s a good time to get involved.”

For further information on how to apply for funding click here.