Members only
Parish and town council borrowing
The Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) was a statutory government body that originated in 1793 and became established permanently in 1817. It is a lending facility operated by the UK Debt Management Office (DMO) on behalf of HM Treasury. It provides loans to local authorities and other specified bodies from the National Loans Fund, operating within a policy framework set by HM Treasury. This borrowing is for capital projects.
Before 2020, the Public Works Loan Commissioners provided PWLB loans. Their functions were to consider loan applications from local authorities and other prescribed bodies and, where loans were made, to collect the repayments. Following a government consultation in 2016, the Public Bodies (Abolition of Public Works Loan Commissioners) Order 2020 abolished the commissioners and transferred their statutory powers to HM Treasury.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) coordinates parish and town council applications for PWLB loans. It can be contacted at [email protected].
The PWLB facility lends to parish and town councils in England. Applicants must obtain borrowing approval from MHCLG. All parish and town council PWLB application forms must be checked, vetted and submitted to MHCLG by their county association. MHCLG will not accept PWLB applications directly from parish and town councils.