Shopfront Improvement Scheme

grants@smartersociety.org Grant Information

Shopfront Improvement Scheme
Shopfront Improvement Scheme

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply?

  • Tenants of commercial units in the Rayleigh, Rochford and Hockley town centres only, you must have occupied the unit for at least 12 months

  • Landlords of empty units

  • Applications will be only considered from independent businesses that have a total of 3 or fewer shop premises across the UK

  • An applicant/retailer must have no disputes with the Council

 

Who is eligible?

The grant is available to anyone who owns or rents commercial premises in (including registered charities) in these areas:

  • Rayleigh town centre

  • Rochford town centre

  • Hockley town centre

This grant scheme is aimed at independent businesses. Anyone operating from 3 or more premises in the UK is excluded from applying.You must have occupied the premises for a minimum of 12 months.

 

What can be funded?

The grant can contribute towards expenditure including:

  • painting of existing shop fronts

  • replacement signage

  • replacement gutter and downpipes

  • replacement shop front, windows and doors

  • reinstatement of traditionally styled shop fronts, sash windows and doors

  • repair and reinstatement of all or any part of a shop front fixture that is visible from the street, including the first and second floors of premises which is used for commercial activities

  • accessibility improvements such as nosing on steps, widening of doorways, ramps for doorways or removal of steps, handrails, portable ramps, power assisted doors, disabled access signs, doorbells and training staff to assist disabled customers

  • professional fees, such as an architect

The scheme will not support: 

  • Improvements to residential property, including residential property located above commercial premises

  • Retrospective applications i.e. for works already completed or underway structural repairs including re-roofing

  • Internal repairs and alterations 

  • External security features, such as shutters or CCTV

  • The cost of a planning application, planning pre-application or listed building consent.

Works must be completed within 6 months of the grant being awarded. Any extension to this deadline must agreed by both parties.

Please note that this grant scheme will not fund VAT.  The cost of your project must exclude all VAT amounts.

 

What you will need before you apply

  • If you are the tenant, you will need a letter from your landlord that confirms that they approve of the works

  • At least one current photo of the exterior of your commercial premise

  • At least one quotation for works. If your project involves more than one contractor (e.g. a painter and a shop sign writer), you will need to upload all relevant quotations. If you do not include all quotations, your application will be disqualified.

  • A commercial bank statement from the last 3 months. You can redact the financial information. We are simply looking for evidence that you hold a current business bank account.

 

How will grants will be assessed and paid out?

  • Applicant must submit a completed application by 12th May at 5pm
  • Checks will be carried out with other internal Council services to ensure that the applicant does not have any disputes with the Council.
  • The application documents will be discussed with a planning officer, in order to establish whether any planning permissions need to be applied for, in order for the proposed changes/updates to be made to the shopfront. The outcome of this will be communicated to the applicant as soon as possible.
  • The Council may arrange a visit with the retailer and/or gather current evidence to check against future changes and developments of the project
  • Applicants will be notified of the Council’s decision by email
  • The applicant will be issued with a Grant Agreement which must be signed and returned to Smarter Society working on behalf of the Council before commencement of the project.
  • Applicant to commence project as outlined in the application form 
  • Applicant to inform the Council of completion of the project by providing a copy of final invoice(s) and proof of payment, and a photograph of the new improved shop front. Applicant must not pay for any part of the project with cash as this makes it difficult for the Council to obtain the evidence required to pay the grant award.
  • Applicant must complete the project in full as stated in their application for a grant within six months of the grant being signed.
  • The Council may arrange a further visit to the applicant’s premise prior to payment of grant.
  • Payment of the grant will be sent to the applicant via BACs. We are unable to make payments in instalments. Payment will only be made into the same commercial bank account supplied during the application process.
  • The Council will conduct evaluation through follow up contact.
  • THE GRANT OFFER IS MADE ON THE STRICT CONDITION THAT IT IS USED TOWARDS THE SPECIFIED WORKS AS DETAILED IN THE APPLICATION FORM. 
  • The applicant must give consent for Rochford District Council to involve the business in publicity e.g., press releases and photographs.

 

Repayment of grant

The council reserves the right to recover all or part of the grant it has provided if:

  • the business is sold or ceases to trade for whatever reason within a 6-month period from receipt of the grant
  • the business relocates outside the boundaries of the council within a 6-month period from receipt of the grant
  • information provided in the application form or other correspondence is found to be substantially incorrect, misleading or incomplete

 

Subsidy control

  • The Subsidy Control Act 2022 (the "Act") came into force on 4 January 2023. The Act sets out the UK's prevailing subsidy control rules.
  • Payments received by the applicant from any business grant schemes administered by local authorities or anything similar from the government, for all business properties they are responsible for, counts as Subsidy Allowance.  Full details can be found in the Statutory Guidance for the United Kingdom Subsidy Control Regime on GOV.UK.
  • To qualify for this grant your business must not have received more than £315,000 of subsidy allowance in the last 3 years.

 

Counter fraud

  • Local authorities will not accept deliberate manipulation and will work collaboratively across the region and nationally to share intelligence and resources to detect fraud.
  • Any business found to be giving false information in order to gain a grant will be investigated.
  • The council will recover money paid in error and fraudulent claims will be prosecuted in the courts.

 

Applications close on Monday 12th May 2025 at 5pm

Please note that we expect this grant scheme to be oversubscribed and cannot guarantee that all applications will be successful.