COMMUNITY projects across Bromsgrove will receive a slice of £79,000 in New Homes Bonus (NHB) cash.

Bromsgrove's Cabinet has approved grants for 14 local groups affected by new housing in the district, including Rubery Festival, Bromsgrove Rugby Club, Primrose Hospice and Haybridge High School PTA.

Hopwood Mums Playground Appeal will receive £10,000 towards the cost of new playground equipment, while £12,000 will be used to increase the size of Bromsgrove Rugby Club's kitchen.

Avoncroft Arts Society has been granted £4,200 for new kitchen units and Wythall Community Association will receive £12,000 to upgrade its men's toilets.

Smaller grants have been awarded to Rubery Festival, for its Rubery's Got Talent competition and fun day, and Rubery's Challenge Stroke Group, for a trip out for members.

Independent district councillor for Hopwood, Charlie Hotham, who supported the Mums Playground Appeal, said: "Once again the New Homes Bonus is doing what it says on the tin - helping local communities fund worthwhile projects.

"It’s great news that Hopwood has been successful and that the play equipment will be significantly improved. This was a real community bid inspired by the mums that will have a long lasting beneficial impact."

Peter Rowbottom, who led the campaign for New Homes Bonus money to be made available to the public, added: "This is the fourth successive year that NHB money has been passed on to local communities, and over that period the total amount spent on improving facilities is now over £370,000.

"It is also worth noting that once again the total requested money for projects far exceeded the amount of available funding, proving how successful the NHB scheme continues to be across the district."