Mid Devon District Council launched a Shopfront Enhancement Scheme this month to support businesses in the town centres of Tiverton and Crediton.

The scheme offers up to 50% of total eligible project costs, up to a total of £2,500 (total project costs £5,000) towards enhancing shopfronts.  The grant is ideal for supporting small repair or improvement projects such as fascia repairs, signage, painting and decorating, guttering, lighting, awning or canopies and more.

A “shopfront” is defined as any part of the town centre building that is public-facing (facing the street), which could include rear and side aspects, as long as the building has a street-level repair need and relates to the commercial usage of the building.

Small or micro town centre businesses are eligible as well as charities and social enterprises within the towns. This includes properties used for retail, cafés, restaurants, pubs, financial/professional services, tourism and leisure.

Richard Chesterton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration, said:

“We recognise that the visual attractiveness of a town centre is an important element in consumers’ choices about where to shop and spend leisure time. The state of repair and decorative condition of shopfronts is an important element of this visual impact and as such is a major contributor to a town’s vitality and economic success.  Therefore, the Council has allocated funding for the purpose of making grants towards the cost of improving commercial buildings within our Town Centres.”

There is an open-application approach with no set deadlines throughout the year, meaning applications will be determined on their own eligibility and merit on a first-come, first-served basis.

Zoë Lentell, Economic Development Team Leader, added:

“Over the past few years, Mid Devon District Council has administered a number of successful shopfront enhancement schemes.  These new schemes in Crediton and Tiverton will complement the existing Heritage Action Zone Shopfront Improvement Scheme running in Cullompton.”

Businesses interested in finding out more about the grant scheme or who wish to make an application, should visit https://www.middevon.gov.uk/business/business-support-advice/business-grants-and-financial-support/ or email BusinessGrants@middevon.gov.uk