Celebrating our Armed Forces and veterans – page 8
Hero heritage projects conserving our history – pages 10 and 11
Nominate your Community Champions – page 20
newspaper for all North Kesteven residents
Calling film lovers of all ages! Plans outlining a new cinema for Sleaford have premiered. If approved, a purpose-built four-screen cinema could be open in the heart of Sleaford, within a reconfigured Money’s Yard, by early 2028. See more on page 5.
Trusted District Council services and functions continue as they are during a period of change which will see new councils set up in 2028.
Government's decision on the shape of local government across Lincolnshire will cut the number of councils from eight to two.
For now, nothing changes and the operations and services of North Kesteven District Council continue as they are for residents, tenants, businesses and all stakeholders.
But from April 1, 2028, the current two-tier district and county council arrangements end, and the North Kesteven district will be split across the two new local authorities.
Each one will be a new unitary council, responsible for the full
range of services – from bins, planning, licensing and leisure, to highways, children’s services, fire and rescue and social care.
North Hykeham and villages including Skellingthorpe, Branston, Waddington, Navenby, Bassingham, Witham St Hughs and Metheringham will move into a new Lincoln Council area, along with parts of the West Lindsey District Council area. With around 214,000 people across 816 sq km, this area will be 22 times bigger than the current city.
The southern half of the District – including Sleaford, Ruskington, Heckington and Billinghay – will move into a second council area covering all of rest of Lincolnshire.
With around 576,000 people across 5,121 sq km, the new Lincolnshire Council area will be
among the largest in the country. Parish and town councils continue unaffected.
Government expectation is that by reorganising local government across the country and delivering public services differently it will open up new opportunities, make councils more financially resilient, enhance quality and make them more responsive to local needs.
North Kesteven District Council remains in place as your local council up to April 2028, responding to need, investing in opportunity and delivering all of the excellence, innovation and consideration you have come to expect of us over the years.
> See pages 6 & 7 for maps and further information relating to the change and page 2 for the Council Leader's reassuring message.
As you will have read on the front page of this NewsNK and may have picked up elsewhere, councils are changing.
Importantly, from your perspective, nothing changes yet, and the services you have come to expect and rely upon from us, your local district council – and from Lincolnshire County Council – continue up to April 2028.
In July, the previous Secretary of State Steve Reed, announced his decision on how councils should be reorganised so there are fewer of them, each running the full breadth of council functions across bigger areas. These councils are known as 'unitary councils.'
In Lincolnshire that will see two new unitary councils formed to replace the current arrangement of seven district councils and one county council.
The shape of these is outlined on pages 6 and 7.
This will result in the North Kesteven area being split in half, with 35 parish areas in the north being part of a new 'Lincoln Council' and the rest of the District being part of a new
"Until
Cllr Richard Wright Council Leader
'Lincolnshire Council'.
This is not a decision of the District Council. It is the outcome of Central Government’s plans for local government reorganisation. The Secretary of State said he thought this option was the ‘best option overall’ of the four that were submitted.
The principle of North Kesteven being a District of Flourishing Communities has been the vision behind everything we have done as a Council for 20 years, if not its entire 52 years to date.
Communities are important to us. We have invested in our area, sustained and supported communities and developed services that enhance and enable them to flourish.
And it is the character of a flourishing community –indeed an area full of them – that I am determined to ensure is not lost within the two new unitary councils proposed.
While I truly believe Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) has the potential to bring about positive change, shifting the way public services are shaped to be more
preventative, and spur good growth, success is not a foregone conclusion, and it needs to be well-led to ensure best outcomes for all.
Now the decision has been made, as councillors we are all determined to make it work for all residents and businesses – ensuring there’s an even spread of services across both councils and a seamless transition to the new unitary structures.
North Kesteven District Council will continue to be your district council until March 31 2028.
New 'shadow authorities' for both Lincoln Council and Lincolnshire Council will be elected in May 2027 and these will be the groups of councillors running the future councils in April 2028.
I am committed to ensuring that until that final day, North Kesteven District Council will do its utmost to support its residents. With parts of the District going into both new council areas, we will be able to exert an influence in both directions to help shape the future of council services across the whole of Lincolnshire.
Who do you know who makes a positive difference to lives locally? Or perhaps a business near you that's community-minded through and through?
Champion them now for this year’s NK Community Champion Awards, through a nomination either online at
www.nkawards.org or using the back page of this NewsNK in your hands.
The awards are themselves a community endeavour, co-ordinated by North Kesteven District Council with the support of local business sponsors. With categories for Community Spirit, Community Group,
Sleaford was one of 400 places considered this summer as the UK’s first Town of Culture in 2028. The submission made by the Sleaford Culture and Heritage Forum –comprising local cultural organisations, creatives, heritage groups and community partners – built on a series of successful activities in recent years and a reinvigorated spirit and enthusiasm to make things happen locally.
An entry to a Government competition for funding to develop cultural activity locally, it highlighted the town’s rich
heritage, creative spirit and distinctive characteristics.
A postcard, made for it, is now part of a national exhibition archive of bids.
Although Sleaford’s bid was not one of the shortlisted 15, the forum of community partners behind it will now look to see how it can build up some of its ideas, either collaboratively or independently, to still happen over time.
Success would have brought a £3m prize to deliver a year-long programme of arts activity and communityenrichment.
Good Neighbour, Young Achiever, and contribution towards sport, art & culture, health & wellbeing and climate action, across the 11 awards we're looking to celebrate voluntary actions made tirelessly for the benefit of people in North Kesteven. It could be by supporting neighbours, contributing
Demolition is underway to create a new public car park close to Sleaford town centre.
The former ambulance station on Kesteven Street will provide additional free and low-cost parking under the District Council’s vision for town centre regeneration.
As NewsNK went to press the first phase of works to demolish the buildings and remove material from the site was beginning.
Once complete it will create 40 spaces, including two disabled and two parent and child bays, and in future may include EV charging.
Being easily accessed off Eastgate, it can serve vehicles before they reach the town's one-way system and complement broader local provision.
to a sports club, picking litter, maintaining paths, supporting those in need, changing business practice to reduce climate impacts or going over and above – all entries are welcome.
Entries close on Monday, September 14, 2026, leading to a celebration evening in November.
Don’t forget, there’s now a free hour of parking at Church Lane car park in Sleaford.
This is to facilitate quick pop-and-shop trips to town centre businesses.
Elsewhere parking in District Council car parks remains low cost, with a slight adjustment to parking charges – the first in seven years.
There's also now a need for blue badge holders to buy a ticket for parking; for which they will receive double the duration that’s paid for, up to the maximum stay within that specific car park.
In all cases a ticket is needed and all motorists are advised to check the boards alongside the payment machines for full information when they park their vehicle.
The Council is awaiting a response after making a legal challenge to the Government decision to approve the UK’s largest solar farm for land at the heart of the District.
A judge will consider the claim made jointly with Lincolnshire County Council, and decide whether there are arguable grounds for it to proceed to a full hearing. It relates to nine points across two principles: that the Springwell Solar Farm application – for 1,280 hectares of land near Scopwick across the heath to the A15 – did not properly assess the impacts on affected rural villages and landscapes; or adequately consider the cumulative impact of developments in Lincolnshire, which are using some of the best and most versatile farmland in the country.
North Kesteven District Council has been recognised for the way it embeds Forces-friendly policies as an inclusive workplace.
The Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award is the highest accolade for organisations that demonstrate exceptional support for the Armed Forces community.
Having achieved ERS Silver status in 2025, NKDC progressed to Gold following a rigorous application process.
Within the District there are 3,730 UK Regular Forces personnel.
As an employer the Council has supportive HR policies and actively promotes the Armed Forces Covenant, with a long-term commitment that exceeds its baseline requirements.
North Kesteven is the happiest District in England according to new figures, although as a resident you might know this already!
The Office for National Statistics’ latest findings form part of the Annual Population Survey, which measures happiness, life satisfaction and anxiety levels.
When asked how happy they felt on the previous day, respondents gave a score out of ten.
With an overall level of 8.09 across the period, between March 2022 and 2023, the District of North Kesteven claimed the top spot in England.
The result is presented as a proxy for a sense for quality of life and community satisfaction.
With a strong sense of community cohesion, exciting cultural and arts offerings, great leisure facilities and beautiful countryside surroundings to explore, there’s so much here to be happy about.
> Why not thank those who contribute to your community wellbeing through an award nomination at www.NKawards.org
Works to introduce high-capacity fibre optic cables alongside the Grantham to Skegness train tracks begin in mid August.
The Network Rail project to improve connections to signal boxes, level crossings and telecommunications nodes will use existing railway cable routes and shouldn't disturb services. It is scheduled to run, mainly in daytime, or occasionally overnight, through to late December.
Thanks to everyone who joined us at the Heckington Show this year - it was a joy!
With an emphasis on enjoying the District by walking, cycling and exploring heritage locations, visitors were also encouraged to consider ways to give butterflies a boost, care for nature and follow the Countryside Code. Having children’s activities, a mini beach, and engagement on food waste, the new council structure and flood preparedness led to the stand being awarded Best in Show with the judge noting the care to offer a breadth of interest for all.
As a former nurse, both within military service and the NHS, Council Chairman Cllr Christine Collard has made physical and mental health support a focus for her civic year. Through her support of Fighting Fit, which helps those who have suffered or who have a diagnosis of cancer, she aims to raise both funds and awareness to help sustain the initiative delivered by the Lincoln City Foundation.
This includes a weekly
session at the Council’s Better Gym in Sleaford. It offers continued support for adults through exercise and social interaction, which is provided by specialist trainers, initially through ten weeks of free sessions.
> Last year's Council Chair Cllr Chris Goldson handed £4,011 to Hollies Animal Rescue Trust, a local charity dedicated to the support of mainly pets in need of re-homing when their owners can no longer care for them for any reason.
The Lost Village music festival returns to Norton Disney over the August Bank Holiday.
Back for an 11th year, the four-day music and arts event impacts positively on the District's economy and culture and raises awareness of our beautiful area as a visitor destination.
Organisers say 2025's event brought £2.25m to Lincolshire, up 12.5% on 2024. with £1.25m spent locally, up £250,000.
Additionally around 50 local volunteer and work experience opportunities were created. A further £125,000 was donated to to local causes in the last four years, with £187,500 pledged over the next three.
The Council has positively engaged over noise impact and the event has a dedicated 24/7 community hotline on 01522 719101
A third phase of public consultation over Anglian Water's proposal to build a new reservoir in the south of the District will take place later this year.
This will provide an opportunity to share views on the latest proposals.
The company says that as plans for this vital new water supply project progress, they are working closely with local communities and stakeholders to help shape their thinking.
To follow the project and hear about future opportunities to have your say, sign up to their e-newsletter to receive the latest updates: www. lincsreservoir.co.uk/stayinformed/register
Work continues on the transformation of an old house into a Changing Places facility at the heart of Sleaford.
Four months of refurbishment and improvement works to 25b Southgate will result in a newly accessible building off Money’s Yard. Alongside new public conveniences, this accredited Changing Places facility will include a height-adjustable changing bench and ceiling hoist within a larger space for people who can't use standard accessible toilets.
It will help residents and visitors to attend events and activities in the town more freely, and to shop and enjoy leisure with more confidence and comfort.
Bringing the building back into use will also deliver two new business opportunities; a café kiosk on the ground floor within a riverside garden and an upstairs suite of rooms.
Work is scheduled for completion in November.
Did you know? There are currently 18 registered Changing Places in the county, including at the Council’s ONE NK leisure centre and also at the International Bomber Command Centre.
Similar facilities can be found at the Rainbow Stars hub in Sleaford too, during its operating hours, with 25b Southgate Sleaford therefore doubling the provision in Sleaford.
From paying bills securely and applying for help, to reporting litter or fly-tipping, lots can be done 24 hours a day at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk including:
• Reporting problems in your area
• Finding bin collection days
• Managing Council Tax
• Checking eligibility for help
To see all of the
Focused on delivering for the people and places of North Kesteven, both now and into the future, the Council set out a record £352m programme for capital investment over the coming decade.
Through this, solid foundations will also be laid on which successor councils can build.
Just in the two years to 2028, NKDC's investment opportunities will see:
> £46m directed into private rental housing;
> £16m more targeted at economic growth opportunities at Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park;
> £19m invested into council property upgrades, including £13m to decarbonise energyinefficient homes;
> £8m for new homes;
> £5m into town-centre regeneration opportunities within Sleaford.
Excitement continues to build for a cinema in Sleaford after the vision for the scheme was submitted in a planning application.
In partnership with operator Savoy Cinemas Ltd, a multi-million-pound investment package has been agreed by North Kesteven District Council to bring forward this long-held aspiration for community benefit and economic opportunity within the District.
As is usual, it is available to view at www.nkesteven.gov.uk/planning-building/planning
The proposals are for a brick-faced building that reflects its setting and the historic townscape through its design and materials, with a glass-fronted foyer and four screens with 349 seats across them in total.
It shows Savoy Cinemas' commitment to investing in the area, and the District Council fulfilling on the promise made to try and bring it forward as the thing asked for time and time again by residents.
If approved, the project will involve the demolition of the Citizens Advice Bureau and old toilet block and a reconfiguration of access and parking within Money’s Yard, including additional disabled bays.
If you can’t complete a transaction online, you can still call us on 01529 414155 during office hours.
Our Customer Services Team are available over the phone on weekdays, except Bank Holidays.
You can request an appointment at our Sleaford office by calling us. Emergency assistance is in place too, including the out of hours number 01529 308308
www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/a-z
Work continues on a series of road works and safety improvements to one of Sleaford's key access routes.
As well as rebuilding the B1517 Grantham Road, traffic lights will be updated and a new puffin crossing put in near the London Road junction to modernise the signals and help traffic flow more smoothly.
The work will continue into late September.
During this time the railway crossing to Southgate is closed and phased day and night-time road closures apply on weekdays only.
Access for residents and emergency services will be maintained.
The car park at Brydone Way off Grantham Road remains in use, with a works compound making use of the unsurfaced area.
The county council is responsible for most roads and highways. Visit www.fixmystreet.com to notify the highways team directly of any issues.
Construction of the North Hykeham relief road, linking the A46 Pennells Roundabout to the Lincoln Eastern Bypass, is moving on apace.
The five-mile long dual carriageway will complete a ring road around Lincoln. New roundabouts will be built at South Hykeham Road, Brant Road and Grantham Road and several bridges including at Station Road Waddington and over the River Witham.
More information and timelines at: www. lincolnshire.gov.uk/nhrr
No fuss. Just quick answers – anytime. If you have a question that needs a quick answer, our chatbot is waiting to help. Select the speech bubble (bottom right of our web home page) to get started.
Right now nothing changes in your relationship with us as your local council.
> For residents – everything continues as at present and you can get in touch as usual.
> For businesses – we’re still here delivering our economic development functions, support and advice.
> For housing and commercial tenants – we remain your landlord with the same relationships and responsibilities as before.
> For parish councils – all the usual relationships and work continues.
> Your MP – Parliamentary constituencies are unaffected. They already cross over council boundaries in part and that won’t change.
Councils are being reorganised so that from April 2028 public services are delivered by fewer, larger, unitary authorities.
Replacing the current structure of district and county councils, each one will deliver the full range of council functions for their area.
For Lincolnshire, this means: > Lincoln Council centred on Lincoln, but covering a wider area which includes half of the current North Kesteven area –map right and pink parishes of map far right.
> Lincolnshire Council, more than six times bigger in size, that covers all the rest of Lincolnshire, including the other half of the current North Kesteven area –green parishes of map far right.
Just as there will be fewer, larger councils, with the change to two councils there will be fewer councillors each representing a larger area. At present every part of Lincolnshire is covered by the county council and a district council, with one or more councillors from each one representing part of the area, called a Ward or a Division.
Currently across these eight councils there are 360 elected representatives.
Numbers of councillors within each of the new councils remain to be finalised but the total is likely to reduce by about half. The ratio of electors per councillor is also to be determined. Within the Lincoln Council area there are around 141, 000 electors, and the Lincolnshire Council has 430,230.
Next May's elections for the new councils' shadow authorities – to set out decisions plans and processes in readiness –means that the current district councillors will stay a further year through to 2028. > See p7 for voting information.
These councils are scheduled to take effect from April 1, 2028.
Until then the current structures remain and both district and county councils carry on doing what they do; supporting residents, businesses and communities. The two existing small unitary councils for North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire continue unaffected – giving four unitary councils across Greater Lincolnshire.
Lincolnshire's c600 parish and town councils are unaffected too.
Each of these council areas will be expected to deliver the full range of services and functions across their area effectively and efficiently.
> At 816 sq km, the new Lincoln Council area will be 22 times bigger than the current City of Lincoln, which accounts for 5% of the total Lincoln Council area.
> It doubles in population to around 214,000 people; and draws in North Hykeham and villages within a span of up to 20 miles (30km).
> This includes around 71,000 people within 35 North Kesteven area parishes (shown right, in pink) – arranged within 12 of NKDC's 23 current wards – and c.38,000 from seven West Lindsey District Council wards to the north (shown above).
> The new Lincoln Council’s population will among the smallest 20% of single-tier authorities.
> Lincolnshire Council, covering the rest of Lincolnshire is more than six times as big, at 5,121 sq km with c.576,000 residents, reaching from close to Grimsby and Scunthorpe down to Stamford, Skegness and Sutton Bridge (shown left).
> The new Lincolnshire Council area will be the third biggest of all councils in England.
> By area, it will be five times larger than the unitary council average.
> It will have the 6th largest population of all the new unitary councils.
> And will be the 14th largest for population of all councils, including London boroughs.
> The current city area covers just 5% of the enlarged Lincoln Council area.
There will be local elections on May 6, 2027 and it's never too soon to get ahead to ensure you get to vote and that it counts. Elections are expected for:
> Councillors for the shadow authorities of the new unitary councils, getting them ready to start on April 1, 2028.
> Parish and town councillors to serve locally.
To ensure you can vote, you need to make sure you're registered and that you either have the right kind of Voter ID to vote at a polling station, or a postal or proxy voting arrangement in place if preferred. And then to keep an eye out for key dates. See information, at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/elections
Part of the process is the annual canvass to check we have the right information in place.
NK parishes that will be within the Lincolnshire Council area. NK parishes that will be within the Lincoln Council area.
Sources: Esri, TomTom,
This structure of four councils for Greater Lincolnshire is the decision of the then Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed MP announced on July 16. It is the proposal made by the City of Lincoln Council, one of four distinct models proposed by Lincolnshire councils in response to Government’s invitation to submit ideas for reorganisation.
Mr Reed said he saw this option as ‘the best overall’; enabling ‘a better outcome overall for the area’; supporting ‘place-based growth by recognising the economic role of Lincoln and enabling increased housing delivery within the city, alongside balancing the distinct urban and rural character across the area.’
Seeing the county and city areas as so different they warrant different approaches, he said it was 'a once in a generation opportunity to ensure that councils genuinely represent the communities they serve today and stand the test of time.'
Mr Reed's announcement letter, the results of the statutory consultation into the four proposals, and other papers are available on gov.uk or by scanning this QR code:
There is still a parliamentary process to go through before the new structures can replace what's currently in place. That will unfold through the autumn and into next spring, leading to elections next May for the councillors who will make decisions leading up to vesting day – and then continue in post for a first term.
> Lincolnshire is an area of 5,937 sq km with a population of around 790,000.
> Lincoln is an area of 36 sq km with a population of around 105,000.
> As a new area, Lincoln Council will account for around 214,00 people – 27% of the county’s population across 14% of the area (816 sq km)
> The rural Lincolnshire Council will take in 86% of the current Lincolnshire county area (5,121 sq km) for 73% of the population, c.576,000
> The average population across existing single tier authorities is 337,000.
From August 18 paper forms will be posted where electors haven't yet responded to prior email or written requests, or where we don't have an email address. It is sent from a gov.uk email with security codes unique for each home. Responses can be made online, or by phone, with a quick phone process to confirm 'no change'. Failure to respond will trigger a follow up phone call or visit in October or November.
If you're unsure about anything it is important to get in touch rather than ignore or avoid it. Contact details are included in the email and any follow-up correspondence. Detailed information, at the Annual Household Canvass section at www.n-kesteven.gov. uk/elections
If you're considering standing for election as a local councillor next May, now's the perfect time to start preparing for it.
Becoming a parish or town councillor is a good way to make a real difference right where you live. Whilst no qualifications are required, there are eligibility requirements that must be met. So if you have a local connection, a passion for community, a willingness to listen, and an enthusiasm to make things happen; whether you’re working, retired, selfemployed, raising a family, studying or volunteering, your perspective is valuable.
Find out more about the role by attending a local parish council meeting, speak to current councillors, or see: www.nalc.gov.uk
To enhance the health and wellbeing, safety and resilience of all our communities; inspiring and supporting a sustainable and flourishing future.
awarded to 56 community projects Over £150,000
Cranwell Community Choir and Heckington Windmill Trust are the latest to benefit from The Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant Community Power Fund. With rolling deadlines for the quarterly consideration of applications, eligible bids are welcome anytime.
Since it was set up in 2019, the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant Community Power Fund has awarded over £150,000 to 56 community projects in Sleaford and the surrounding area.
In partnership with the Council, the fund seeks to allocate up to £25,000 a year to support community projects.
With a focus on encouraging stronger communities, there is also an emphasis on the environment, sport, wellbeing and education.
The scheme is open for eligible applications anytime, with forthcoming deadlines of August 12, December 9, and April 14.
Groups must be not-for-profit, based and operating within five miles of the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant. They may apply for up to £5,000 in any one year.
See www.n-kesteven.gov.
uk/your-community or contact the Partnerships Team on 01529 414155 or partnershipsteam@nkesteven.gov.uk
A dozen Lincolnshire veterans, whose service collectively spanned more than 200 years, were among the Armed Forces personnel thanked for their contributions at the Council’s Celebration of Military Service. It took place at the start of Armed Forces Week, following the raising of the Armed Forces Flag which was saluted by the Station Commanders, Station Warrant Officers and military representation from RAF Cranwell and RAF Digby.
The event commemorated the 15th anniversary of the end of Op Telic, the 35th anniversary of the end of the Gulf War, and the 90th anniversary of Bomber Command.
Re-framed as a Celebration
of Military Service, it sought to champion not only veterans and serving personnel but also the families and communities which support them in their duties.
Council Leader Councillor Richard Wright presented the Veterans Badges in the company of D-Day veteran centenarian Les Budding and other veteran guests.
Their stories included how one had inadvertently met through conversation at a royal reception someone he had battled against during the Falklands War and toasted their mutual ‘miss’. which had ensured their survival.
The celebration provided an insight into life across all the Services over recent decades.
Badges were presented to 12 veterans including:
> Ardva Boyes-Brewer, Royal Air Force
> Douglas Cornford, Royal Air Force
> Alan Doughty, Royal Air Force
> Tom Herbert, Royal Air Force
> John Hyde, Royal Air Force
> Andrew McMahon, Royal Air Force
> David Pratt, Royal Air Force
> Martin Shepherd, Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm)
> Andrew Sloan, Royal Air Force
> Cynthia Tilbury, Royal Air Force
> Stephen Woods, Royal Army Medical Corps
Most of these veterans served for 23 years or more, with three achieving 38 to 40 years of dedicated service.
Veterans of any of the UK Armed Forces who have served for any duration are invited to apply to receive their Veterans Badge at our 2027 celebration event. If you already have your badge you're welcome to have it formally presented. Email armedforces@nkesteven.gov.uk or call 01529 414155 for information.
See www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/armed-forces
A new approach in community engagement for members of the broader Armed Forces family is being pioneered in the District.
In a first of its kind for Lincolnshire, the new Armed Forces Community Hub in North Hykeham works as a ‘hub and spoke’ network, providing
Over 20 community, voluntary groups and charities will benefit from a combined total of £10,000 in the latest round of funding through the North Kesteven Community Lottery Grant Fund. Community and voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises with financial resources below £20,000 were eligible to apply for grants of up to £500 to support activities that benefit local residents. This is funded by the North Kesteven Lottery, through which 60p from every £1 ticket goes
a central point of contact for information, guidance, local services and community connections to support serving personnel, veterans, residents and military families.
Operated by North Hykeham Town Council and in support of surrounding parishes, it seeks
towards good causes, either 50p to a nominated good cause and 10p into a general good cause fund or 60p directly into the general fund if no specific cause is chosen.
The latest round of funding built up through these 10ps has now been awarded to 22 groups, including for the benefit of local swimming pools and sports clubs.
One of the groups to benefitNorth Scarle Village Hall - said the support from the Council “has made a real and lasting difference to our village hall and
to bring together members of the Armed Forces community across a broad area; extending support and ensuring nobody feels isolated or unsure where to turn. Find more information about the support available, see www. northhykehamtowncouncil.gov. uk or call 01522 681537.
the community it serves”.
To buy your tickets for the lottery, or to apply for your local group or good cause to benefit from it, see www.nklottery.co.uk
A new drone will continue to help save time and money while supporting more effective investigations and prosecutions.
It is used to identify possible planning enforcement issues, detect fly-tipping and nuisance bonfires, inspect private rented housing roofs and more.
The drone is used responsibly and openly, with officers carefully considering privacy, data protection and sensitive locations before each flight.
Through extensive training staff are flying with confidence and legally in compliance with the Civil Aviation Drone Code.
Twelve Environmental Health officers spanning various
professional disciplines have completed the Council's drone pilot competency programme, with the Private Sector Housing team having additional training for roof inspections.
The drone has already been deployed to assist team members finding the location of bonfires. Without the drone it would be time consuming and often difficult to do this from the ground.
After successfully using contracted drone technology to map emissions in smoke control zones, the Environmental Health team saw its wider potential including locating fly-tipping, identifying waste accumulations, assistance with
contaminated land site walkover inspections, locating sources of insect outbreaks, assessing for compliance with notices, roof inspections, locating bird scarers, light pollution cases, and smoke control zone enforcement.
Rather than use contractors, having in-house trained drone pilots is more effective.
> If you ever have your waste taken away it's essential to ensure the carrier is licensed, which you can check on the Environment Agency website – see below.
If it's dumped you could be prosecuted for not taking proper care, but to help you we have a receipt tool at www.n-kesteven. gov.uk/flytipping
Verify your waste carrier at https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register
Body-worn cameras are being used to improve officer safety and fair handling during licensing compliance visits. It reflects growing industry practice, following incidents where officers experienced aggressive behaviour, and when used during inspections or incident responses the cameras help ensure an accurate record of events and compliance matters. Recordings are deleted once full compliance is achieved, or where no issues are identified.
A shopwatch and pubwatch scheme has started up again in Sleaford, enhancing community safety and strengthening confidence for shoppers and businesses.
Similar to the previous scheme, this time it makes use of smarter technology, with re-established direct radio link to the CCTV control-centre.
Co-ordinated by local security firm Aurora Security, the Council secured funding through the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire to set up the innovative radio system. It creates for members a connected, reliable and responsive communication network that can interact and connect with CCTV, which itself was expanded and enhanced through Council and PCC funding.
To celebrate the anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Government wants to map local history of royal moments for future generations. Can you help?
Whether it’s a street party that took place or other local and celebratory moments that you feel defined Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign, the Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial would love to hear the stories from your communities.
You don’t need to have met the late Queen in person. It could be about a past Jubilee you recall celebrating, a memory of a royal visit to your area, or simply a story of how a community came together, it all belongs in this record for future generations.
Visit www.queenelizabeth.com before August 31 to take part.
Please help us share the dangers of swimming in lakes or old quarries, including at Millennium Green in North Hykeham, and important warnings to not swim in them.
Millennium Green is not safe for swimming because of hidden dangers which can be present underwater in places like these.
There can also be blue/green algae or bacteria present. Always look for signs and advice to see whether swimming is safe and permitted and follow The Water Safety Code. See: www.rlss. org.uk/the-water-safety-code
The Royal Life Saving Society UK raised awareness during its drowning prevention week in June.
What unites our communities, what would bring us closer together, and what does it mean to be British?
The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion has launched The National Conversation to ask generational questions like these, about the kind of country we all want to build.
It’s underpinned by a national survey at www.nationalconversation.ox.ac.uk and open until August 31.
The Commission will publish its final report at the end of the year, delivering the country's most comprehensive mapping to date of people’s shared vision for the future.
It wants to hear from people across the country and has created free-to-download resources on the National Conversation website for councils and wider organisations to use when running group conversations.
North Kesteven has a whopping 34 conservation areas. Some were designated more than 50 years ago and the Council has an ongoing programme to help and maintain them, along with their communities.
This includes updating and reviewing existing Conservation Areas, while also continually looking for new areas that would be worthy of designation.
Once designated, a Conservation Area affords extra protections to help conserve historic buildings and features – from churches, landmarks and homes to architectural and building styles – to help protect them from unsympathetic alterations and neglect and maintain the area’s character.
The most recent reviews have been in Washingborough and Sleaford, and in the last 10 years, the Council has reviewed or newly designated 13 Conservation Areas.
The existing areas at Leadenham and Brant Broughton are next to be reviewed, with the hope that they will be at public consultation early next year, and a new Conservation Area is proposed at Ruskington.
With the parish council interested in a first-time designation, initial research has shown that Ruskington retains large areas of historic architecture that should be protected and proposals will be developed further over the next year.
Sleaford’s historic town centre will benefit from stronger protection and increased investment after an extension to the existing Sleaford Conservation Area was approved.
This marks a major step in safeguarding one of the town’s most distinct and atrisk heritage areas and is seen as complementing broader conservation measures in the town, making it a more attractive place to live, shop and visit.
It will see the boundary expanded west to connect Castle Field to the rest of the Conservation Area and bring in Victorian terraces around West Banks. It will also facilitate a more joined-up approach to revitalising the town centre, improving shopfront design and enhance public spaces.
Building on the success of UKSPF town centre improvements, further funding is being sought for a heritage-led regeneration within Sleaford Conservation Area.
If approved, the project will have a particular focus on repairs and enhancement of historic buildings, shopfronts and architectural details on Southgate – including improvements to ginnels, alleyways and Gladstone’s Yard to improve access and create a heritage gateway.
In North Kesteven, heritage and the conservation, protection and enhancement of special buildings and places is of strategic importance. Such importance that it has its own strategy – the North Kesteven Heritage Strategy. As we approach the first
anniversary of the strategy’s adoption, it’s good to reflect on some of the successful schemes embedded in the document, and the holistic emphasis it gives to a joined-up heritage approach District-wide.
The town centre regeneration in Sleaford has been successfully
taking shape.
The appointment of NK’s first heritage apprentice has allowed all work streams to develop further.
And Bass Maltings is enjoying an improved national profile having been included on Historic England’s Investment Prospectus for regenerative investment.
Sixteen historic buildings at the heart of Sleaford have had their heritage shopfronts restored and rejuvenated through the distribution of more than £650,000 of investment funding.
So successful has the Sleaford Shopfront Grant Scheme been that it has led to a funding bid to support a wider and more ambitious shopfront scheme in the town centre.
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, it also generated an estimated £235,000 of investment by building owners in private sector match-funding which helped push individual projects to achieve even better results, including uncovering previously hidden heritage features.
This programme also built on another, from around a decade earlier through which a number of shops and businesses in the town were able to restore their historic frontages after heritage organisation Historic England highlighted Sleaford’s characteristic heritage as
being at risk.
The recently-completed No. 4 Southgate (pictured above; inset before) is a particularly impressive transformation, with the property replacing its shopfront and having traditional hand-painted signage.
The grant, together with private owner match funding, instigated a huge project to reinstate much of the original 1898 shopfront design
A new scheme will conserve and celebrate the traditional signage that gives the District’s historic buildings such character.
With so many of North Kesteven’s businesses located within heritage properties, the District Council is now offering a traditional signage scheme that applies District-wide.
Under the North Kesteven Traditional Signage Scheme grants are available for 80% of the total cost of eligible works to preserve or reinstate traditional signage, to a maximum grant of £1,000.
To qualify the project must relate to a commercial property, be a heritage asset – either a listed building, on the ‘local list’ or be located within an existing
Conservation Area. For more on how to apply, see below.
Signage proposals should also meet the guidance in the North Kesteven Shopfront Design Guide –also available on the website, below.
The guide provides practical guidance for shop owners, architects and other involved parties to develop sympathetic and positive designs for shopfront signage, before it is ordered and installed.
and features.
Other projects recently completed through the scheme include 2-6 Market Place, Westgate bookshop, 40-42 Westgate, and Istanbul Barbers on Southgate. See www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/ news for previous stories.
The Council’s Heritage Grant Scheme fund has doubled from to £50,000 annually thanks to its success. Through it, over £150,000 has been distributed to 60 projects since 2020.
The fund supports the enhancement, preservation and restoration of historic buildings across the District, and has attracted private sector match funding of over £500,000 to get projects underway and make them bigger and better.
Of the £50,000 available yearly, £10,000 is now ring-fenced for improvements to traditional signage.
The high level of interest in the fund means this year’s allocation was almost wholly taken-up just three months into this financial year, with grants offered to support works such as repointing and stonework repairs, window repairs and signage.
Grants can meet 80% of the cost of eligible works for listed buildings (up to £3,000); 60% for buildings in a Conservation Area (up to £1,800); and 50% for properties on the Council’s ‘local list’ of non-designated heritage assets (up to £1,200).
Audit on all ‘at
How do you know which historic buildings could be at risk and need protecting? By walking the District to see them and assess their condition – of course.
In partnership with Sleaford Civic Trust, the Council has surveyed nearly all of North Kesteven’s 1,000+ Grade II listed buildings to get an understanding of their condition.
This is a fairly unique position which further illustrates the commitment and rigour of the small conservation team of two, and ensures national heritage body Historic England has a good overview of the situation locally too.
Surveying them all identifies vulnerable historic sites, enables targeted conservation, unlocks funding opportunities, and is the door to securing expert advice to bring buildings back into use.
The work is already revealing opportunities for enhancement, and in some cases requirements for more urgent repairs and maintenance.
The final results are expected to be published so that – along with the Council’s strategy for removing those properties from the ‘at risk’ register through working with the landowners and interested parties in the heritage sector – residents can also help those buildings most at risk within their communities. Check www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/news for updates.
“Conservation officers play a vital role in protecting what many people care about, even if they don’t quite realise it.
People’s memories and experiences are rooted in places – the house your grandma lived in, your old school, the shop which had the best selection of 7-inch singles, or even the place you had your first drink (for me, it was the old Queen Vic pub on Southgate in Sleaford which is sadly no longer a pub).
You only need to look on social media and the local news, or sometimes even national news, at the outpouring of grief and anxiety when these places are lost.
Fortunately, though, many are protected, and it is the local authority and its conservation team that manage this protection; and often they’re first port of call when there are plans affecting their futures.
Just looking at our day-to-day duties, it’s an enormous task to help protect North Kesteven’s historic buildings.
The District has over 1,000 listed buildings. Most villages also have a Conservation Area, and most of these are filled with historic buildings.
Together, these buildings and places define the character of an area, and it’s ultimately this that we help to protect as conservation officers.
Historic buildings make our towns and villages attractive places to live, whatever stage of life we may be enjoying, and
"Heritage buildings and places define the character of an area... and that’s what we seek to protect " Matt Bentley Conservation Officer
encourage people to work and visit.
Listed buildings are protected for their special interest because they are unique and offer glimpses into the past; and conservation areas are designated to ensure a village or town really holds onto its special character, and retains its status as somewhere that people value. By managing change to these places sensitively, and carefully, we can ensure we hold onto the things people hold dear.
In turn, that ensures that our shared history can continue to live on in bricks, mortar, wood and stone, in the art of architecture and in the unique surroundings we pass through every day as those did before us. Managing change doesn’t mean conservation stifles progress. Rather, it is a tool to inform the sensitive development of a building or places. It’s about protecting key characteristics and significance to ensure any proposals meet the high bar that the building, village or town has itself set through its own long periods of positive change.
As conservation teams and local authorities we seek to protect and enhance these areas, so that in the future our shared past is positively reflected and remembered through its amazing historic buildings and places. We feel this is important, and hope you agree.“
> Not sure whether a building is listed?
> Need planning guidance?
> Contact the team by email: planning@n-kesteven.gov.uk
To champion and deliver a just transition for our climate and environmental commitments and aspirations.
Less energy used to light theatre after LED upgrade
The curtain is rising on a brighter, greener future for the Terry O’Toole Theatre in North Hykeham after the District Council secured £107,777 from Arts Council England’s Creative Foundation Fund.
The funding will enable the venue to upgrade to energy efficient LED lighting, significantly reducing energy use by 90% while giving productions greater creative flexibility.
The Council and venue operator GLL have jointly committed £11,976 as a 10% contribution to the project scheduled to take place in August, with completion in September.
It will replace the theatre’s outdated lighting system with 105 modern LED lanterns, addressing urgent retrofit needs linked to energy inefficiency, safeguarding users, and boosting the theatre’s economic sustainability as energy use – and associated costs – fall to 1,200kWh; lowering its carbon emissions and significantly reducing environmental impacts.
The project further demonstrates the Council’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions as outlined in its Climate Response Strategy.
And from the Arts Council’s perspective the upgrade will further enhance the Terry O’Toole’s capability to deliver high-quality creative work, enhance technical capacity, support inclusive programming, and ensure the theatre remains a vibrant, sustainable cultural hub.
See www.betterboxoffice.
co.uk/terry-o-toole-theatre/ whats-on for listings.
Trees play an important role in supporting a healthy environment.
Their roots help to stabilise soil and reduce erosion, while their canopies and surrounding soil can slow rainfall, absorb water and help alleviate surface flooding.
In a changing climate, trees are increasingly important in helping places to stay cool with tree-lined streets being 5°c cooler on average than streets without trees and providing valuable shade.
Trees can even help improve air quality by filtering particulate matter from the air.
They also provide food, shelter and refuge for wildlife, with some trees known to support more than 200 different species.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing rapidly in popularity and becoming a normal part of daily life for business and private use.
Nearly 90% of EV drivers would recommend an EV to others. Unlike petrol and diesel cars, EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, meaning they don't release any CO2 into the atmosphere which improves air quality and health. They also generate less noise pollution and reduce reliance on
A mature oak is said to support 2,300 species, with 326 species depending on oak for survival and 229 species rarely found on any trees other than oak.
Access to greener spaces and being closer to nature has also been proven to improve our own health and wellbeing.
Community planting projects, such as those supported through the Coronation Living Heritage Fund and at Belton Park Drive, bring people together too and help create a shared sense of pride in local places.
> In hot and dry weather don't forget to water your trees – any trees planted over the last couple of years will probably need some help, so give them a big drink!
During the 2025/26 planting season more than 5,000 trees have been planted in North Kesteven, helping to create greener spaces for residents, stronger habitats for wildlife and a more resilient local environment for the future.
This was by planting trees on the District Council's own land and supporting community planting schemes.
Piloting an innovative Miyawaki approach, 4,565 trees went in at Belton Park Drive, North Hykeham, using dense planting and a mix of species to encourage faster establishment and potentially greater biodiversity benefits than more traditional methods.
One hundred trees at Bede Close, Sleaford, and 200 at Stone Way, Holdingham, were provided through iDigTrees.
Also, 161 fruit trees were planted through the Coronation Living Heritage Fund, leading to greener community spaces and helping residents connect with nature close to home.
These new trees are also expected to contribute to future carbon sequestration as they grow. Current calculation methods suggest around 2,500 tonnes of CO2 could be locked in once the trees reach maturity; around 2.6 tonnes through the orchard trees.
The amount of carbon a tree can sequester depends on many factors, including species, health, and soil conditions.
www.n-kesteven.gov.uk
fossil fuels.
Charging is cheaper than diesel or petrol, especially for those who can charge at home overnight (with home charging costing from as little as 2p per mile).
Most EVs can now travel 200300 miles on a single charge and for many families this is sufficient.
Public EV charging infrastructure is continuing to improve: the UK now has over 87,000 public chargers, with one added every 35 minutes.
See link below to find out about grants available for buying EV.
> Did you know? While it is impractical for the Council's bin lorries to be electric – instead they run on a diesel-replacement biofuel – there are four electric vehicles within the wider Waste & Street Scene fleet.
A major review of the state of the natural world locally has been published.
The Greater Lincolnshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), identifies aspects of the local environment that should be protected, local priorities, and opportunities to improve nature.
It picks out important local features such as wildlife-rich habitats, ancient woodlands, nature reserves and SSSIs.
As a supporting authority we have approved the final strategy and it has now been adopted. Going forwards, it will have many uses, including consideration of planning applications > www.glincslnrs.org.uk
• More than 1,300 items donated
• 303 mobile phones
• 82 laptops
• 87 tablets
• 900+ cables weighing 115kg+
Final figures may rise as not all cables were counted or weighed at the nine collection points.
Hundreds of unwanted phones, laptops, tablets and cables have the chance to be reused or responsibly recycled through North Kesteven’s successful second E-Waste Action Week.
More than 1,300 items were donated through the initiative, delivered in partnership with Sleaford Climate Action Network and support from local IT company Sivill Service.
The items will be refurbished and distributed to local good causes, supporting local people who can’t access digital devices, or securely recycled to recover valuable materials.
Expanded events with repair cafes in Bracebridge Heath and Sleaford saw skilled volunteers assess and repair broken items, further saving resources and the expense of replacement.
All donated devices are securely data-wiped by experts, helping residents donate with confidence Items that can be refurbished are put back into use while those that cannot be repaired are recycled so that useful materials, including metals, can be recovered rather than wasted.
Subscribers of our waste e-newsletter gave invaluable feedback on the new Food Waste Recycling Collection, helping us to evaluate and improve the service and the information we share.
The cost of living is a concern for many of us, and it's important to be aware of how we can reduce our monthly bills.
One effective way to do this is by improving our home's energy efficiency.
Simple changes can often make a huge difference, for example installing loft or wall insulation can help prevent heat escaping,
Last year’s first E-waste event had global impact as refurbished tech that could no longer be used on UK systems was redirected through humanitarian links to people and good causes overseas.
Some equipment has supported people in Ukraine –including the military – while older, more basic laptops have also been sent to Ghana to support access to technology and digital learning there.
So by donating e-waste locally it's not only by recycling the materials they hold and reducing demands on new minerals that the world benefits, but by re-use too.
Sleaford Library had the highest number of phones dropped off during the action week, while North Hykeham Civic Office recorded the most laptops and Ruskington Methodist Church received the most tablets, along with a single large cable donation.
The Council thanks Sleaford CAN, Sivill Service, donation point
draught proofing around doors and windows and switching to LED light. And it might be possible to upgrade to a more efficient boiler, install air source heat pumps or solar panels. Grants, advice services and funding schemes are available, making these improvements more accessible and affordable, particularly for households most
E-waste matters because there are so many old devices hidden away, all containing materials that can be reused, reducing the need to mine new minerals.
By channelling items away from waste streams and into reuse we help cut the environmental impact of technology: up to 85% of a laptop’s lifetime carbon footprint is generated during manufacture and transport; and a refurbished smartphone prevents over 91% of the carbon emissions associated with a new one.
Such concerns motivated 56% of e-waste donors. One in four said they hadn't previously known how to dispose of e-waste properly, showing how the week raised awareness as well as collect items.
hosts, repair café volunteers and residents for helping make the week a success.
By taking the time to hunt out unused devices and cables, residents across North Kesteven helped reduce waste, protect valuable resources and support people who can benefit from refurbished technology.
affected by rising costs.
The Energy Saving Trust has a wealth of useful advice and guidance, alongside the Centre for Sustainable Energy, see the weblink below.
A better insulated, more energy efficient home can also be a cooler home. See the Our Homes pages overleaf for ideas on shading which helps too.
Over 1,750 people responded, sharing insights into using the service after the first month, and we appreciate all the feedback. 86% of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with the new service, with only 5.9% dissatisfied.
93% of people said their caddy was collected as expected –which is encouraging as new services can have teething problems. We’re confident this figure would now be even higher as missed caddy reports have reduced significantly.
97% were confident or fairly confident about what’s accepted in the food waste service.
> You can always check in the leaflet that was delivered with your caddy, or on our website.
> For any more specific or unusual items, you can always contact us to check.
Your feedback answered:
> The orange-lidded caddy can go out each week alongside your other bins – it doesn’t matter how much is in it.
> There's new guidance on liners on our website and we encourage you to reuse any existing bags you may have.
> Missed caddies are reducing as our crews get used to the new service and the ways they are presented in different locations. You can report a missed collection on our website.
> Check the FAQs on our website for tips about windy weather.
> The waste goes to an anaerobic digester north of Lincoln where it’s converted into sustainable biogas and fertiliser for local farms.
> Visit www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/ foodwaste for information and the FAQs.
Through the Local Plan, deliver sustainable housing growth and pursue energy efficient development to meet the current and emerging needs of all.
New homes added to District data last year 1,098
There are a lot of numbers involved in making sure public services operate efficiently, ensuring right levels of funding and provision.
For its work in keeping these updated, relevant and reliable, the District Council has – for a third year – been awarded a Platinum accolade, recognising the efficient collection, maintenance and curation of street data.
This includes updates on the: > 3,446 different postcodes within the Council area, and, adding in > 26 new named streets > 1,098 new homes and > 100 new commercial properties.
There are lots of reasons for doing this work, including helping ensure that emergency services can find you in a flash.
In addition to helping bluelight services and delivery firms; accurate and well-maintained street records also help highway authorities to confidently evidence their network to help secure funding and to meet their statutory requirements including appropriate street works notifications.
They are also an essential resource for utility providers and contractors.
Each year, GeoPlace celebrates best practice and outstanding examples of data management by local authorities, recognising the quality of a council's street data and the management of its Local Street Gazetteer.
It shows that in total there are 59,437 unique residential property references in North Kesteven and 5,322 for commercial property, with 1,227 added new last year.
14
Funding has been agreed to move forward a £16.6 million development that will create 52 specialist homes in Sleaford. It will provide more housing choices that help people to live independently, stay connected to their community and get the support they need when they need it.
The development will be delivered through a partnership between North Kesteven District Council, Homes England and Lincolnshire County Council. It will include:
> 40 extra care apartments for older people who want to maintain their independence while having access to care and support if needed;
The work
At the end of the 2025/26 financial year, 37 houses that had stood empty for two years or more had been successfully brought back into use by their owners following support or intervention by the District Council. In the previous financial year
> 12 supported living apartments for working-age adults who need additional support to live independently;
> and scope to further extend the scheme to include 20 new houses enabling a multigenerational mixed-tenure community.
With the final funding components confirmed, a contractor engaged and planning permission in place, construction is expected to start in Spring 2027, with the new extra care apartments and supported-living homes ready for people to live in by Autumn 2028.
The funding package is made up of £7.268m through Homes England's Social and Affordable
30 homes were brought back into use, an eight-year high and building on the recovery of 300plus homes over 14 years at that time.
The total now is approaching 350 empty home recoveries over 15 years.
A poster which graphically highlights the wider impact of empty homes on the character of a neighbourhood also drew an award for Best Use of Media from the Empty Homes Network. Through it there has been a marked increase in the number of homes referred and reported for attention and potential support.
The Council provides advice and non-financial assistance to homeowners, including signposting to the VAT Discount Scheme.
If you’re a property owner wanting to discuss a long-term empty home in North Kesteven, or you know of one, visit www.nkesteven.gov.uk/emptyhomes or call on 01529 414155
Homes Programme, alongside £6.42m from North Kesteven District Council and £2.92m from Lincolnshire County Council.
The project helps meet a strong local need, fulfils a longheld aspiration of the District Council’s, and make a significant contribution in meeting the accommodation needs of three distinct groups of local people at different stages in life.
And by incorporating a fabricfirst approach of quality, wellbuilt, well-insulated homes, with renewable energy including rooftop solar panels, air source heat pumps and modern energyefficient construction methods, these homes have low-carbon living built-in from the outset.
Just as important as maintaining a warm, dry and secure home is ensuring it is comfortable and safe to live in during hot weather. Creating a cool space during heatwaves can be challenging, so Shade The UK and The Red Cross have worked together to develop a comprehensive guide with everything from cheap, instant fixes to long-term projects.
Some actions are low cost and temporary fixes that are renterfriendly, while others feature permanent or semi-permanent changes to your home.
Window treatments, shading, using plants, reflective surfaces, soft furnishings and making home improvements can all be used to help lower the temperature of your home in summer, and some changes may even help keep it warmer in winter.
Find the guide at www. shadetheuk.com/overheatingadaptation-guide-for-homes and see what changes you can make to cool your space.
The housing company owned by North Kesteven District Council to provide high quality, well designed and well managed homes throughout Lincolnshire is developing new residential opportunity across the area.
Lafford Group’s launch of Lafford New Homes marks an important step forward in its work to provide more housing choice across North Kesteven.
The new private sales offer will sit alongside Lafford Living, which provides private rented homes across the District, giving residents more options when looking for a home that suits their needs and circumstances.
Lafford’s current and upcoming developments include:
> Beacon Hollow, Washingborough
> Petrella Place in Billinghay
> The Orchards in Greylees
Beacon Hollow will provide private rented homes through Lafford Living, while Petrella Place and The Orchards will include both homes for sale and for private rent through both of Lafford’s operations.
They each reflect Lafford’s focus on delivering well-designed, modern homes in communities across North Kesteven; creating places where residents can feel settled, supported and proud to live – whether they are renting, buying their first home, moving within the District or looking for a home that better suits their future needs.
The cost of living continues to impact households, and there is still help available to save money on your bills and expenses.
Providing emergency support to eligible residents, CRF offers a safety net for those on low incomes who encounter a financial shock, reducing the need for crisis support in the long-term. Councils are currently reviewing government guidance and considering the best way to support households locally. Applications are open through the weblink below.
Targeted support for households reliant on heating oil, facing financial hardship due to rising prices and at risk of losing immediate access to heating or hot water.
The scheme is administered locally by the Lincolnshire Community Foundation. Details on eligibility and applying will be on a webpage (below).
From April 2026, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are replaced by the Housing Payment (HP) strand of CRF.
If your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit (housing element) does not cover your full rent, you can apply for extra help to cover the shortfall. See webpage (below) for information.
Major UK providers offer deals for households where someone is receiving benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Jobseeker's Allowance.~ See www.ofcom.org.uk
Re-opens in October, giving £150 off electricity bills. It will be automatically applied on the bill by your energy supplier if you are eligible. See www.gov.uk
To access schemes above, see
Improvements across several aspects of the Council’s role as a landlord led to an upgrade in a judgement on the service.
Seven months on from an initial C3 judgement on the Council's landlord services, in April the Social Housing Regulator upgraded this to C2 following a period in which the Council had worked to address highlighted issues.
The Regulator’s role is to ensure social housing is well managed, financially sound and delivers quality homes and services to tenants. These are all priorities the Council shares.
C2 is the second level in a grading scheme on performance against a range of consumer standards, with some weaknesses identified in meeting a couple of requirements on two standards.
While delivering to the required standards across most expectations, the C2 identified that further improvement was needed on repairs, contractor performance, and in better knowing our tenants so that services can be tailored for any specific needs – all of which has moved forward in strides since the assessment.
We continue to invest in new homes, current homes and in the tenant service, making our homes easier and more comfortable to live in.
There are three opportunities this year for Council housing tenants to engage in the Annual Forum in September.
With sessions at the Council Offices in Sleaford on September 21, both 12pm-1pm and 5pm-6pm; and at The Ark on Moor Lane in North Hykeham on September 23, 12pm-1pm, it is hoped that as many tenants as possible can attend one session.
Sessions are drop-in, with a chance to meet managers and officers from the housing service, ask questions and to review recent performance.
It is open to council tenants only. Further information from the Resident Engagement Team on 01529 414155 or email tenant_ participation@n-kesteven.gov.uk
www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/benefits-support
The Council team which promotes building safety and legal compliance has been named among the best small teams in the country.
The NKDC Building Control team was praised for the “consistency” of its approach and the “quality of outcomes delivered” as it received the Silver Award for Small Team of the Year at this year’s Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards.
The nomination outlined how the team had “not only adapted but excelled” in meeting the significant challenges Local Authority Building Control services nationwide faced implementing the major reforms required following the Grenfell Tower disaster.
> Also in the LGC Awards, Lafford Homes was short-listed for leadership in the housing sector.
> In another awards programme the Council was short-listed for its partnership with Equans, delivering more than 500 projects to make council homes more efficient, sustainable and save up to 3,000 tonnes of carbon a year.
The new Renters Rights Act came into force with effect from May 2026, giving tenants new rights and introducing new rules for private landlords.
This includes:
> No more fixed-term tenancies, with all private tenancies becoming rolling automatically;
> An end to assured short hold tenancies;
> A ban on Section 21 ‘no-fault evictions’ so that landlords can no longer evict without a reason;
> Rules on the way rent can be increased;
> A requirement for landlords to fully consider requests to have pets.
To read the full updated information, which landlords should have given to tenants before June, see: www.gov.uk/ government/publications/therenters-rights-act-informationsheet-2026
To support sustainable and regenerative local economic growth and resilience; transitioning to a Green Economy working within environmental thresholds.
Photo: Emilie Nunn
£226m
value of tourism to the local economy
Annual figures that take a snapshot of the impact of tourism and visitor days out to a local area have been released for 2025. Using the same measures for collecting and calculating the numbers nationwide the STEAM data shows that there were three million tourism visits within North Kesteven in 2025. This was an increase of 3.8% on 2024.
That generated £226m to local economy, through direct spending and tourism business expenditure
This was 8.8% up on the year, and supported 2,170 full-time equivalent jobs. In reality there were more actual jobs created or supported through tourism activity as many of them are part-time or seasonal.
Of those 3m, 2.6m were day visits, which was a rise of 4.7%.
And nearly 343.000 people stayed longer than a single day2.8 days on average. By staying longer, booking accommodation and buying more food, drink and goods, their economic impact was proportionately higher, at £84m. Day visitors were found to spend an average of £57 each in the local economy, illustrating the importance of local businesses developing an offer that is attractive and inviting. Businesses can get support and advice through our BusinessNK and Heart of Lincs teams.
For more business news, scan to sign up for the Council’s e-newsletter.
Three years of projects, over £4 million in investment and a lasting legacy. Since 2023, UK Shared Prosperity Fund money has been invested in communities, businesses and people in order to strengthen local pride, growth and opportunities. As the scheme now comes to completion, we look back on what has been achieved...
For town centre improvements
Sleaford town centre has seen major investment using UKSPF monies to make it more welcoming and appealing.
Public spaces have been re-imagined with improvements to the Market Place, Handley Monument and Monument Gardens including new seating, planting, lighting and repaving at Market Place and repainting the Wyvern Barrier next to Monument Gardens alongside improving the space there.
Other areas have been refreshed together with community support, including litter-picking at Nag’s Head Passage.
At the same time, new wayfinding signage now helps visitors discover the town’s heritage and attractions while refreshed popup spaces encourage people to spend longer.
Did you know? In a recent survey...
• 81% of people rated Market Place as good or very good.
• 36% are more likely to spend time in Monument Gardens.
• Visitors describe Handley Monument area as “modern and fresh”.
For business growth across North Kesteven
Over £650,000 has transformed 30 Sleaford businesses through the Sleaford Shopfront Scheme (see pages 10 and 11), enhancing the look and feel of the town, with all of the works undertaken by Lincolnshirebased contractors and over 75% of those based in the District.
Since 2023, grant schemes across the District backed by UKSPF funds have also supported over 22 businesses and 43 community organisations with much-needed upgrades from solar panels to new equipment.
These projects are improving efficiency, sustainability and resilience - 8 Sail Brewery in Heckington said: “We now have a piece of equipment that will
A project celebrating its history brought together archaeological investigations and research by the Sleaford Castle Heritage Group.
The findings have helped improve understanding of Sleaford Castle, which was built between 1123 and 1139. They are now showcased at Sleaford Museum on Southgate with a scale model of the castle. There's also a book to buy.
save us money but also we'll have resilience in the business, and we know that we'll be able to continue making lovely beer."
More than 700 businesses have strengthened their digital skills through the Maybe* programme which has provided digital and in-person support. From just the 2026/27 programme alone, 46% reported saving time on marketing.
At the same time, the Unmissable North Kesteven programme helped businesses to develop new visitor experiences to attract more people into the District.
The experience maker workshops closely supported 21 businesses and facilitated the creation of over 15 new experiences, with some fully-booked straight away following launch.
From RiverLight and WinterLight festivals to Teenage Markets and community-led events, the District Council has supported both new and established events using UKSPF funds and these have proven enough of a success to pave the way for an annual events programme at Sleaford Market Place.
It has also included a grant to support new and existing events, such as the Threekingham Viking Festival, a young artist exhibition at The Carre Gallery, and Christmas at Heckington at Heckington Windmill.
• There were over 1,200 engagements - people visiting and interacting - at the first WinterLight Festival in Sleaford in 2024.
• The 2025 WinterLight Festival saw a 12-fold increase in footfall (1,113%) compared to footfall recorded on the previous three Saturdays from 3pm-8pm.
• One local business recorded a 61% increase in sales and 117% increase in transactions at last year's Sleaford-on-Sea event.
The Moving On programme, delivered by VCS Lincolnshire, supported 59 people to improve their employability with 11 moving into employment and 36 starting volunteering roles.
YMCA Lincolnshire delivered a Youth Engagement project where 40 local events and activities were delivered, engaging with 513 children and young people.
Lincoln City Foundation ran free sessions for the local community - Street Imps provided young people with free football in a safe environment and is continuing still now, as is Fighting Fit which aims to boost fitness and emotional wellbeing for people living with cancer, while Pathways to IMPloyability involved free employability courses for all ages.
Once further improvements to the river are completed, Sleaford's new trip boat will be ready to make its first journey along the Slea Navigation, helping to celebrate and reconnect people with the town's historic waterways.
Sleaford Navigation Trust owns and oversees the 30-foot steel narrowboat which is moored on the River Slea near The Hub.
Through
To support greener and healthier communities, items such as reusable water bottles and bicycle repair kits have been distributed for free across North Kesteven.
An event called TravelLight, delivered in partnership with Sleaford Climate Action Network, also brought together local groups, businesses and organisations to promote sustainable travel, supported by the chance for visitors to have a go on unique bicycles for fun.
Four extra units funded with UKSPF money have expanded CCTV coverage in Sleaford town centre and allowed wider CCTV system upgrades. Their locations were identified through dataled assessments by the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the District Council, with partners including Sleaford Town Council which contributes to monitoring.
A mobile youth engagement hub called The Zone was delivered in Sleaford twice in 2025, for four days each in June and September.
It offered a safe and creative place for 11-18s to chill and enjoy activities in a dedicated space that was entirely their own.
Did you know?
• In total, almost 500 young people attended the Zone across the eight days, with an average daily attendance of 61.
• 84% of attendees reported that it made them feel part of the wider community.
Sleaford’s Bass Maltings are being highlighted as one of Heritage England’s biggest hopes for residentialled regeneration of historic places.
They are contained within the organisation's new prospectus of heritage investment opportunities, showcasing 20 historic sites and buildings where owners are actively seeking partners to move forward regeneration hopes.
Lord Mendoza, Chairman of Historic England, led the launch of the prospectus at the major investments and infrastructure forum UKREiiF.
Council Leader Cllr Richard Wright discussed with him the potential opportunities the organisation can assist with, in lining up new investors to bring forward sustainable regeneration of all the locations featured within the prospectus including the Maltings.
The site is privately owned, and through strategic masterplans and previous planning permissions the Council has actively promoted regeneration of it.
The King is looking to celebrate businesses for their outstanding achievement. Across the categories of innovation; international trade; sustainability; young founder; and promoting opportunity through social mobility, the King’s Awards for Enterprise offer rich rewards for business growth, promotion and development.
Organisations with the award status – valid for five years –report access to wider export markets, increased commercial value, a boost to staff morale and increased commercial value.
The deadline for applications is September 8.
For details and to check on eligibility see www.gov.uk/ kings-awards-for-enterprise
An exploration of local heritage through contemporary art and community participation is in its second phase with an exhibition at the Hub Sleaford.
Through to November 8, Common Ground showcases Sleaford's Shared Stories, bringing together heritage and historical objects with new commissions they inspire.
And through intergenerational dialogue it offers new perspectives on local heritage.
> the Hub is open daily, 10am – 5pm, free.
Experience life in the old-fashioned way at Mrs Smith's Cottage, rolling back to a more sustainable way of living.
Using dolly tubs, washboards, and a mangle just like Mrs Smith, the wash day weekend (August 14-17) is suitable for all ages.
There are giant garden games on August 29 and 30. Bring a picnic.
On September 26, celebrate harvest season and enjoy all things appley at Mrs Smith's Apple Day.
Themed crafts, press your own apples (bring your own, plus containers if you wish), and take home Mrs Smith’s apple chutney recipe.
There are also craft activities throughout the summer, autumn and Christmas holidays.
All activities are included in admission price. Booking is advised.
> Open Friday to Monday, 12pm-4pm.
Continuing until August 23 in Sleaford Market Place, a pop-up beach is popping back to bring the fun of bucket and spade holidays closer to home.
Free to enjoy, all day, everyday, the huge sand pit, surrounding deckchairs and proximity of food, drinks, ice cream and treats from nearby shops make for a great
Put your taste buds to the test at Cogglesford Watermill's Summer Taste-Off, where homemade cakes go head-tohead with supermarket rivals.
On August 29, 12pm-3pm, sample, vote and discover which bakes come out on top.
A fun, family-friendly event to pick up inspiration for your own baking, mill-ground flour and free recipes to try at home.
There are special milling days on the second Sunday and guided tours on the fourth Saturday, every month.
Throughout October there's a witch hunt as mischief takes over the mill, and Remembrance poppy displays on November 8.
> Open Friday to Monday, 10am4pm, free.
day out for all the family.
It's just the latest in a popular programme of events made possible by reconfiguration of the Market Place. Next up are:
> Halloween Event – Saturday, October 24
> WinterLight Event – Saturday, December 19
> Love Sleaford - February 20, 2027.
There are stories being told at Navigation House, itself deeply ingrained with history.
Up to August 31, explore the life of Boston's Herbert Ingram, seen as the father of pictorial journalism, and a champion of social reform and welfare, who died in a shipwreck in 1860.
A children's trail gives the opportunity to create prints of your own to take home.
Then in October half-term, mark 100 years of Winnie the Pooh and the charming stories from the Hundred Acre Wood.
Have a go at writing your own with our short-story activity.
In December it's a Victorian Christmas take-over with wreath making and a special visitor.
> Open Friday to Monday, 10am2pm, free.
Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum tells the story of the RAF College with interactive exhibits, VR headset, and an onsite Jet Provost aircraft.
Re-invigorated this year with fresh cafe and shop, the current exhibition Gallantry in the Air showcases outstanding bravery.
> Open Friday to Monday, 10am3pm, free.
Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre has a 1940s Day on Sunday, August 30, 10am to 4pm, at Martin Moor.
As well as hearing about RAF Metheringham's origins and 106 Squadron, see re-enactors, climb aboard resident Dakota KG651 and enjoy vintage vehicle displays.
> Tickets: £12, under 12s free.
Explore the Wonders of Whisby at a special weekend on August 22 and 23 celebrating 25 years of engaging people with wonderful wildlife at the nature park and visitor centre.
Located just off the A46 Lincoln bypass, close to North Hykeham, Whisby Nature Park is operated by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, which also runs an education centre, alongside the Council’s Whisby Visitor Centre – the re-named Natural World Centre.
On Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23, 11am to 4pm each day, there’s a twoday drop-in programme jampacked with fun activities, wildlife discovery, guided walks, trails and exploration of areas normally closed to the public. Normal £3 parking fee applies.
Everything’s engaging for families, children and adults alike.
> See behind the scenes of the busy Education Centre and explore the grounds; with an interactive trail of activities along the way.
> Visit the ‘History of Whisby Nature Park’ exhibition at Whisby Visitor Centre.
> Join dedicated volunteers on guided walks to their favourite places in Whisby Nature Park.
> Meet Lincolnshire makers creating wildlife art.
> Enjoy Rhubarb Theatre’s ‘Collection Day’ performances for families. On Sunday, make simple puppets to join in.
> Look out for the Blyton Ice Cream mobile trike.
> Guess the use of old farm and reserve management tools at Trust’s wardens’ office.
> Access the park’s six way-marked trails, from 1.2 to 3 miles.
> For an additional fee, early birds can catch a nature-themed music event on Sunday August 23, 10.15 and 11.15am. Ideal for under-5s, the 40-min session includes bubbles and props to add even more fun to nursery rhymes, puppets, musical instruments and songs. £8.50, with free sibling place. Booking required www.caterpillarmusic.com/ class-leaders/anna-coggan (select Saturday)
> Add to the celebration with anniversary merchandise in the visitor centre shop and themed picnic boxes to pre-order or buy on the day.
Facilities: Toilets (inc accessible toilet), shop, cafe/refreshments, play and picnic area, baby changing and accessible trails. Dogs welcome on leads, but no dogs within the education grounds please.
In recognition of its ever-growing popularity and expanding function at the heart of Whisby Nature Park, the Natural World Centre is being re-named as the Whisby Visitor Centre.
As the centre has developed beyond its original exhibition concept, with expanded activities and facilities – becoming a free destination in its own right for 250,000 annual visitors to learn, play, socialise, stay active and relax – the new identity better reflects its contemporary function
The centre is owned by the Council which has invested in its development and reconfiguration over the years, introducing innovative opportunities for active play indoors and out, and most recently in improved accessibility and green energy measures.
The centre’s original goals were to foster appreciation and understanding of the natural world among visitors of all ages, to lead by example in sustainability and to support community wellbeing through accessible green space, education and recreation.
The new identity that more faithfully reflects the centre’s function and place at the heart of the nature park is being progressively introduced.
An exhibition charting the broader Nature Park’s history as a landscape shaped by ice, industry & nature can be seen in the Visitor Centre’s downstairs events space, the Cygnet Suite. The site opened as a nature reserve in 1989 based around a series of lakes formed through sand and gravel quarrying. Built as the county’s main Millennium Project, the Natural World Centre was an early pioneer of climate consideration, just as it is today with its air source heat pumps and 71 solar panels providing sustainable power.
The exhibition also shows how, just as the number of visitors to the centre and accessing the nature park increase – so too does the richness of the site’s biodiversity; becoming one of the most bio-diverse locations in Lincolnshire with over 4,000 species, including a proliferation of rare species, beetles, dragonflies, orchids and, until recent years, nightingales.
> For Whisby's 25th anniversary, a site-grown oak was planted in an echo of the one rooted by the late Prince Philip when he opened both the Natural World Centre and Wildlife Trust’s Education Centre.
Please tell us about anyone who you think deserves an award. You can nominate at www.NKawards.org or using this form and additional follow-on sheets. Please post to North Kesteven District Council, Sleaford, NG34 7EF (stamp req’d) by September 14, 2026. More details: at www.NKawards.org / email champions@n-kesteven.gov.uk / call 01529 308061
Award categories: (Tick the box of chosen category)
Community Spirit
Good Neighbour
Young Achiever
Community Business
Longstanding Contribution
Nominator (you)
Name:
Address:
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Tel or Mob:
Reason for nomination: (please use follow on sheet)
Contribution to Better Environment
Contribution to Arts & Culture
Contribution to Sport
Contribution to Health & Wellbeing
Contribution to Climate Action
Community Group
Nominee (person for award)