Torridge businesses can apply for help with a new year makeover as council grant scheme returns

Businesses and shops in towns across Torridge are being invited to apply for grants to get a new year makeover in the second phase of a scheme to beautify the area.

Torridge District Council is launching the second round of its Town Beautification Scheme, which offers small grants to businesses for structural or decorative improvements to their premises.

In 2023 the scheme was focused on town centres and distributed nearly £18,000 across 24 applications, brightening up shop and business frontages, including the reoccupation of three empty premises, which created five new jobs.

Round two has added an opportunity for submissions from the gateways into town centres to ensure the entrance to town is also appealing, as well as the town centre itself.

The money for the scheme will once again be provided through the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will be limited to capital improvements up to maximum grant of £1,000 with the agreement the business matches the amount.

The hope is to make towns across Torridge more attractive and to increase the number of visitors to town centre, as well as to encourage news businesses and projects to reoccupy empty premises.

The council says the kind of work the grants might be used for includes things such as shop windows and doors, new signage, painting shop fronts, replacing gutters and downpipes, or other refurbishments.

The second roll out officially launches on Wednesday, January 10, with a deadline of 12noon on February 7 for applications.

Any business in Torridge town centres can apply, but projects will need to fit in with the aesthetics of the area and take into consideration other aspects such as conservation areas.

If successful in their grant bids, projects must be completed by the end of July.

Councillor Bob Hicks – TDC lead member for the economy said: “It was very pleasing to see such a large number of businesses benefit under the previous scheme and the difference this has already made to our town centres.

“By opening the scheme up to gateways leading into town centres the opportunity is now more widely available this time around.

“The rejuvenation scheme provides business owners with an excellent opportunity to start a new project or take on a bigger scheme that they might be struggling to finance. I would urge business to take note of some of the success stories announced previously and see how their own businesses could benefit.”

For more information on eligibility, please contact Kirsty Defranceski (town centre project officer) at Torridge District Council on 01237 428919 or email economic.development@torridge.gov.uk if you would like to discuss the scheme further.