Prepare your investment plan before the form arrives

The things that need to be true before you start writing the investment plan.

• 10-year vision agreed and published
• Board membership complete and terms of reference adopted
• Accountable body arrangements confirmed in writing
• Baseline data recorded so change can be measured later

A shortlist of deliverable projects for the first four years, not the full decade.

• Long list of candidate projects captured with an owner for each
• Each project mapped to a vision theme and outcome
• Prioritisation criteria agreed and applied openly
• Early wins identified alongside longer buildsVisible delivery in year one protects confidence in year four.

Evidence that the shortlist can actually be delivered by the people named.

• Land, site or asset control confirmed for capital projects
• Planning, procurement and consent routes identified
• Delivery capacity checked — who is doing the work
• Risk register with mitigations and owners

How the money is split across the four years and between capital and revenue.

• Year-by-year funding profile drafted
• Capital and revenue split tested against what each project needs
• Match funding and additional funding sources recorded
• Running and maintenance costs identified beyond the funded period

The final steps before the plan goes anywhere.

• Community tested the shortlist and the feedback is recorded
• Board formally approved the investment plan
• Accountable body assurance completed
• Official MHCLG submission form used once publishedUse the government template when it is issued — this hub's tools are preparation, not a substitute.