The Head of Economy and Planning has decided to approve grant funding for the Towns Fund Green Business Infrastructure project in Manor Royal.

URL: https://democracy.crawley.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=785

Decision Maker: Head of Economy and Planning

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: At its meeting on 4 June 2025 the Cabinet, in respect to report PES/488, approved the signing of the grant funding agreement for the Towns Fund Green Business Infrastructure – Re-energise Manor Royal project. On 17 June 2025, the Head of Economy and Planning took the decision to action resolution (c) of report PES/488, namely approving and completing of all relevant documentation including legal paperwork necessary for the signing of the Grant Funding Agreement between Crawley Borough Council and Manor Royal BID for the following Project: "Green" Business Infrastructure Grants (1C) - Pillar 2 Local Energy Community. The Grant Funding Agreement between the Council and MRBD (Manor Royal Bid Company Ltd) is for a total value of £987,689 of government funding via MHCLG. Full Council approved the allocation of this funding to the above project as part of the Council’s capital programme on 30th March 2022 whilst the project and its funding allocation has also been approved by MHCLG as part of the Crawley Towns Fund programme. The above decision allows Manor Royal BID to progress delivery of the project through a Local Energy Community (LEC), named Re-Energise MR Limited (Registration Number: 8998). This decision was taken in conjunction with the Head of Corporate Finance and the Head of Governance, People and Performance, and in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development. This scheme forms half of the overall Towns Fund project. The overall objective of Pillar 2 of this Towns Fund project is to pilot and initiate the decarbonisation Manor Royal Business District through the use of solar PV and thereby progress towards Net Zero for Crawley borough. The monies will provide the initial capital outlay required to purchase and install solar PV panels on multi-tenanted commercial buildings, which currently has a lack of take up by the traditional route of outright purchase of these assets by individual businesses which seek renewable energy alternatives. Through this project, the new Local Energy Community (to be established by the Manor Royal BID) will buy, own and operate a solar PV energy system to supply electricity to businesses within the Manor Royal Business District. This pillar of the Towns Fund project has been declared as a subsidy under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Therefore, a full principles analysis of the project has been submitted onto the Department for Business and Trade Subsidy Control Database.

Content: At its meeting on 4 June 2025 the Cabinet, in respect to report PES/488, approved the signing of the grant funding agreement for the Towns Fund Green Business Infrastructure – Re-energise Manor Royal project. On 17 June 2025, the Head of Economy and Planning took the decision to action resolution (c) of report PES/488, namely approving and completing of all relevant documentation including legal paperwork necessary for the signing of the Grant Funding Agreement between Crawley Borough Council and Manor Royal BID for the following Project: "Green" Business Infrastructure Grants (1C) - Pillar 2 Local Energy Community. The Grant Funding Agreement between the Council and MRBD (Manor Royal Bid Company Ltd) is for a total value of £987,689 of government funding via MHCLG. Full Council approved the allocation of this funding to the above project as part of the Council’s capital programme on 30th March 2022 whilst the project and its funding allocation has also been approved by MHCLG as part of the Crawley Towns Fund programme. The above decision allows Manor Royal BID to progress delivery of the project through a Local Energy Community (LEC), named Re-Energise MR Limited (Registration Number: 8998). This decision was taken in conjunction with the Head of Corporate Finance and the Head of Governance, People and Performance, and in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development. This scheme forms half of the overall Towns Fund project. The overall objective of Pillar 2 of this Towns Fund project is to pilot and initiate the decarbonisation Manor Royal Business District through the use of solar PV and thereby progress towards Net Zero for Crawley borough. The monies will provide the initial capital outlay required to purchase and install solar PV panels on multi-tenanted commercial buildings, which currently has a lack of take up by the traditional route of outright purchase of these assets by individual businesses which seek renewable energy alternatives. Through this project, the new Local Energy Community (to be established by the Manor Royal BID) will buy, own and operate a solar PV energy system to supply electricity to businesses within the Manor Royal Business District. This pillar of the Towns Fund project has been declared as a subsidy under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Therefore, a full principles analysis of the project has been submitted onto the Department for Business and Trade Subsidy Control Database. To approve and complete all relevant documentation including legal paperwork necessary for the signing of the Grant Funding Agreement between Crawley Borough Council and Manor Royal BID for the Towns Fund "Green" Business Infrastructure Grants (1C) - Pillar 2 Local Energy Community. This decision was taken in conjunction with the Head of Corporate Finance and the Head of Governance, People and Performance, and in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development.

Date of Decision: June 17, 2025