Central Bedfordshire Council's High Street Improvement Scheme

Date Added: 30/09/2016

Central Bedfordshire Council have launched a £1 million capital fund to deliver a high street improvement scheme that will revitalise our 11 market towns through improvements to shop fronts and tackling vacant retail units.

The scheme offers grants to high street businesses to make improvements to their business premises to create attractive shop frontages that attract more visitors and shoppers onto the high street.

Businesses will be eligible to apply for a capital improvement grant if they meet certain criteria, such as the business being an ‘independent’ and not part of a multiple chain of stores. Only those areas with participating town councils will be eligible for the scheme.

Grants of up to £20,000 (and in exceptional cases up to £50,000) will be available to enable businesses to:

carry out external redecoration to the front of the business
improve a privately owned forecourt or threshold facing the high street
improve or replace the existing fascia or signage
replace windows or window frames and doors
highlight ornate building features such as cornicing and other architectural features
improve or replace exterior lighting
provide new awnings
create a new brand identity for signage purposes
provide other capital shop front improvements
The scheme will fund up to 60 per cent of required works (with 40 per cent coming from private and other public sector sources) and will include design / build costs and any planning permission fees required. Grants cannot be used retrospectively to fund works that have already been carried out.

If you are interested in applying to the scheme, or would like more information, a guidence pack and application form can be downloaded here. To speak with someone about the scheme please contact the Town Clerk for an informal discussion.