About the Scheme
The aim of the Town Centre Building Grant Scheme is to improve and regenerate Ashton by bringing out the best in the historic environment, to increase the attractiveness and vitality of the town centre.
A total fund of around £500,000, from UK Government Levelling Up Fund, will provide grant to deliver a range of repair and conservation work to retail and other business premises within the town centre, particularly within the Conservation Area.
The project is planned to complete in March 2026 and all grant funding must be spent by then.
Who can apply?
Owners of properties that are in commercial use.
Tenants can also apply, as long as they have a repairing lease which is not due to expire before the end of March 2026.
What is eligible?
Funding of up to 90% is available for conservation-led repairs and improvements to commercial properties located within the priority area. These could include:
- Shopfronts and traditional signwriting.
- Enhancing existing historic features e.g. windows, doors, brickwork, timber details, etc
- High level joinery
- Awnings.
Works not eligible for grant:
- Complete re-roofing and internal refurbishment
- Work that has already begun
- Works that do not have the relevant planning approval (and listed building consent where applicable).
When to apply?
We expect there to be two funding rounds:
- Round 1: By 30 June 2024
- Round 2: By Spring 2025 (subject to funding)
The project is planned to complete in March 2026 and all grant funding must be spent by then.
How to Apply?
- Submit an Expression of Interest form
- Appoint an appropriately qualified and experienced architect or building surveyor qualified consultant to develop the proposals. The consultant must be registered with an appropriate professional body (ARB/RICS) and have relevant previous experience. For work involving historic buildings, conservation expertise is desirable and a conservation accredited architect (either AABC registered or an RIBA Conservation Architect) or an RICS conservation accredited surveyor is preferred.
- Obtain tenders from suitable contractors
- Submit a Full Grant Application Form with supporting documents including a copy of the specification/schedule of works, drawings of the proposed work and the preferred contractor’s tender price. There are two deadlines for submitting a full grant application form:
- Round 1 deadline: 30 June 2024
- Round 2 deadline: Spring 2025 (subject to funding)
- Enter into a grant agreement and offer. This must be signed and returned to the Consultant Project Manager.
Help and support will be provided by the Consultant Project Manager if required, see contact details below.
Additional guidance
For more information please see: