Funding approved to give shopfronts a facelift
The future looks bright for Campbeltown’s town centre as Argyll and Bute Council has approved £50,000 of funding to help repair and refurbish tired shopfronts.
It is hoped the shopfront improvement scheme will further improve the town centre’s appearance by building on the success of the Campbeltown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) and Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).
Businesses within the designated grant area can apply for funds of up to £5,000 for works such as: painting of shopfronts; new or improved signage; and repairs to timber doors, windows and shopfronts. Other works will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Costs that can be included are: all materials and labour for the eligible physical works of the shopfront; professional fees where applicable; statutory fees for planning applications, advertisement consent or building warrants, if applicable; VAT on repair costs and fees where it cannot be recovered.
Grants are available on a first come, first served basis, and projects must be completed by March 31, 2020. If this cannot be achieved, there must either be a start on site or a contract awarded for the works by that date.
Applications cannot be made retrospectively, and internal works are not eligible for funding. For all works a minimum of three quotations must be provided, and all necessary consents for the approved works must be obtained.
One business owner said: ‘This is another boost for the town centre following the major repair works carried out in the last 10 years via Campbeltown CARS and THI.’
Another retailer said: ‘It provides businesses with an opportunity to improve their shopfronts to attract more people into the town centre.’
Campbeltown CARS Round 1 and the THI ran from 2007 to 2015. CARS Round 6 started in 2015 and has delivered seven priority building projects safeguarding the future of a number of occupied homes and businesses and providing opportunities for vacant units to be brought back into use.
Some of the vacant ground floor units had previously been forced to close due to issues with the external fabric of these properties. The CARSfunded repairs enable these units to be brought back into use and it is hoped that the shopfront scheme will help to attract new businesses.
It is anticipated that local contractors will carry out the vast majority of the work providing another boost for the economy and ensuring that the money remains in the area.