The Shopfront Grant Scheme is for businesses in March town centre.
Please note, applications for Round One of the grant scheme are closed. Details of future funding rounds will be added here as soon as they are available.
Please refer to map showing the eligible locations in the town centre.
Grants of up to £50,000 will be awarded to cover front of building refurbishment costs. A higher amount of grant may be available in exceptional cases.
The Shopfront Grant Scheme is part of the £8.4million March Future High Streets investment, funded with £6.4million from the Government's Future High Streets Fund and £2million from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. The grant is being delivered by Fenland District Council's (FDC) Economic Growth Team Fenland for Business.
The expression of interest deadline for this scheme closed on 30th August 2024.
Who can apply to the Shopfront Grant Scheme?
Businesses will be eligible to apply for a shopfront grant of up to £50,000 if the shop is at ground level and is within the March Town Centre boundary - see map below.
Image above: Businesses within the red line on the map are eligible to apply to the Shopfront Grant Scheme.
What does the Shopfront Grant Scheme cover?
Applicants will have their property surveyed by Fenland District Council's Conservation Officer and will be provided with a summary of works which are deemed within the scope of the works that can be funded. These interventions could include, but are not limited to:
External renovations or improvements to the front elevations of buildings, including, but not limited to:
- repairs
- repainting
- signage
- external lighting
- repair of external stonework and brickwork
- repair and reinstatement of guttering and down-pipes
- window display equipment and lighting
- accessibility adaptations to the front of the property
Grants of up to £50,000 will be awarded to cover up to 95% of the total cost of the works (excluding VAT), with more than £50,000 being offered only in exceptional circumstances, based on the assessment and scoring criteria applied to each application.
Grant support will be available for any pre-application requests directly linked to the scheme.
There is a fixed total amount of grant funding available and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.
How do I apply to the Shopfront Grant Scheme?
Applicants must complete the short online Expression of Interest (EoI) form by the deadline of 30th August 2024.
Completed Expression of Interest forms will be assessed and applicants notified as to whether or not they have been invited to submit a full application. Applicants will be notified by no later than 16th September 2024.
Once the full application has been assessed we will contact you to confirm if your application has been accepted. We will not consider any applications that are incomplete.
Decisions to reject an application cannot be appealed, but feedback will be provided which can be used to support subsequent further applications if required.
Terms and conditions of the Shopfront Grant Scheme
Premises must be within the town centre boundary of March as shown on the March Town Centre map.
Premises should be located on the ground floor and visible from the street, and any works must make a positive difference to the surrounding area.
National multiples/brands and franchisees will be eligible for grant funding.
Applicants must be up to date with Business Rates (NNDR) payments, and this will be verified before a decision is made as part of the application review process.
Grant applications must be approved before any works take place except in exceptional circumstances where evidence of spend within the last year on shopfront improvements (in line with regulation) can be evidenced.
Successful applicants must create at least one new employment role of minimum four hours per week to be eligible for the funding.
Successful applicant details may be published on Fenland District Council websites and in communications material such as press releases and social media posts.
If you have any queries or need further information or advice contact Fenland for Business.
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