UKSPF property improvements grant - expression of interest

UKSPF capital grant for improvements to target vacant buildings in market town conservation areas 

Capital grants from £2,000 to £10,000 are available for up to 50% of the total eligible costs, to undertake improvements to premises bringing them into a rentable condition. Grants aren't available for any expenditure incurred prior to the approval of the grant funding.

Before completing the expression of interest form, please read the following information to understand whether your project could be eligible. There are no exceptions made and incomplete or ineligible expressions of interest will be declined.

Location

Businesses must be physically located in the Shropshire Council local authority area (this doesn't include Telford & Wrekin).

Grant 

  • Grants available of between £2,000 and £10,000

  • Application to be submitted by a business. Commercial landlords applying must be either a small or medium sized business (1-49 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees) that has been trading for at least three months. Medium-sized businesses (50-249 FTE) may apply, but through invitation only

  • Matched investment required by the business of at least 50% of the total investment

Eligibility

To be eligible you must meet the criteria below:

  • Be the landlord/owner of an eligible commercial property. (If you're a tenant please visit our UKSPF expression of interest form guidance page for grants you may be eligible for).
  • Intend to lease out or rent out an eligible a commercial property previously vacant for a minimum of 12 months
  • Don't intend to sell the commercial property within two years of receiving the grant
  • Your property is within a market town centre conservation area - we may decide that a property slightly outside of these boundaries is eligible at our discretion
  • Types of commercial properties including retail, leisure, hospitality, offices and tourism are eligible to receive funding for renovation works to support the leasing or renting out of the vacant property. By exception we may consider a property on which an offer for a lease or rental agreement has been agreed
  • Organisations/ property owners who apply also need to be in good standing with the council, including being fully paid up on any money owed to the council, such as business rates. Applicants or organisations that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made aren't eligible for the grant

Type of business activity 

All businesses are invited to apply if they meet the standard grant requirements provided, unless any of the following exclusions apply. Applications arent acceptable from: 

  • Public organisations such as town and parish councils 

  • Voluntary and charitable organisations that don't derive an income from the supply of goods or services 

  • Regulated or restricted sectors, including gambling, banking / insurance (and other financial services), pornography, mineral extraction and the manufacture of armaments and related systems 

  • Businesses that are political in nature or which represent lobby or campaign groups 

  • Businesses that act exclusively to promote or represent religious or faith-based groups 

  • Any business that is in current financial distress, eg at risk of insolvency, or subject to a pending strike-off from Companies House 

  • Any business that is in arrears with business or council tax payments, or otherwise in legal dispute with Shropshire Council 

Ineligible activity

  • Primary food / timber production or primary food / timber processing where the product remains unrefined (eg egg-grading machines or vegetable handling systems) 
  • Tourism accommodation projects that are:
    • Within properties that aren't business-rated
    • Converting existing private residential accommodation into holiday lets
    • Only improving existing accommodation and not increasing the number of beds / camping berths available

Specific grant conditions

  • Clawback if the property is sold within two years of the completion of the funded works
  • Applicants will be made aware that properties in receipt of this grant will not be exempt from inclusion within the High Street Rental Auction designation area.

Application form

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Applicant details