VTS:VHF 14 "Plymouth VTS"

Sustainability Fund

As part of our Sustainability Strategy we are initiating a Sustainability Fund to support local activities and projects. This new Fund is an investment in our collective future which aligns with the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners’ Trust port status and our Vision: 

To maintain, preserve and enhance the Cattewater Harbour for all users, present and future. Cattewater Harbour is overseen by the Commissioners who collectively aim to create and protect stakeholder value and achieve sustainable growth. We provide robust governance and support the Harbour’s management team keep the port and the surrounding area safe, with an environment that is healthy and attractive. We aim to combat climate change and ensure that the port area continues to make a major contribution to prosperity and employment in Plymouth and the wider South West region.

The aim of the Sustainability Fund is to encourage improvements in the three areas of sustainability – Environment, Economics and Equity/Social. We invite your proposals for funding to achieve initiatives related to the following topics:

  1. Biodiversity e.g. new habitat structures, and biosecurity controls
  2. Environmental quality enhancement e.g. reducing water pollution 
  3. Waste reduction e.g. single use plastics avoidance, and removal e.g. water/beach clean supplies and activities
  4. Safe use of the harbour area e.g. educational youth group activities
  5. Inclusive access to the harbour area e.g. to enable those with mobility issues
  6. Communication e.g. new display boards 
  7. Skills and job creation 

The physical areas included in the scope of our Sustainability Fund are: the marine environment, shoreline and waterfront in our Statutory Harbour Authority (SHA) area, the tidal part of the Plymsee map here. The Tamar falls into a different jurisdiction outside the Fund’s area.

In terms of administration the Sustainability Fund has been set up and will be managed by Cattewater Harbour Commissioners. We will consider funding proposals at our Board meetings, with successful applications announced on our website. We will also consider details for inclusion in our annual Sustainability Report and social media posts so success celebrations can be shared.

In addition to our existing Community Benefit Fund, the Sustainability Fund enables an additional set of topics to be considered for support, see the seven that are listed above.

  • what you want to do and achieve
  • how is this sustainable
  • who is involved
  • timing of activity event(s) / how long your project will take
  • how the activity or project will be undertaken
  • indicate on the map where you propose your project will be located (download the map, mark up approximately and attach to your application)
  • describe what other funding you have or are seeking from other sources. 

Sustainability Fund Application Form:


Sustainability Fund FAQs

Use the Sustainability Fund application form as above.

See the seven listed above.

See physical area description/download SHA map.

No, for example proposal costs could be related to equipment purchase and hire, facility rental, travel and refreshment expenses, training and employment.

We have a limited annual budget set aside for this Sustainability Fund. If your proposal is for over £1,000 you should provide extra information.

The Fund will initiate to coincide with our 2025 Port Open Day (13th September 2025) and is anticipated to be active for the foreseeable.

Applications are considered at our Board meetings so decisions will usually be announced within a couple of months after applications are received.

Cattewater Harbour Commissioners collectively.

Community Benefit Fund

Sustainability Fund applications are invited in accordance with our existing donations programme for Community Benefit. The Community Benefit scheme process and policy can be viewed here:  https://plymouthport.org.uk/info/community-support/ As detailed in this policy, we already consider requests for funding related to four categories:

  1. Welfare support to seafarers
  2. Support for training in water sports particularly when focused on young people or disadvantaged groups in society.
  3. Support for projects designed to enhance or increase the safe use of the Cattewater and Plymouth Sound.
  4. Support for projects to preserve or improve the marine environment and that of the area surrounding the Cattewater.

Within the Community Benefit scheme we also consider requests outside these topics and in those cases seek demonstration of how the proposals would benefit users of the Cattewater and surrounding area.