Copeland Pride of Place – Town Centre Regeneration Scheme

Guidance for Applicants

The Council has taken a lead in terms of supporting growth in Copeland and towards generating greater investment and employment in the Borough. A central ambition within the Council’s Corporate Strategy is town centre regeneration, with the aim that our towns and villages should reflect the prosperity of the area.

Aims

The Copeland Pride of Place Town Centre Regeneration Scheme aims to enhance the image of our town centres, whilst also supporting our villages. The grant scheme is available to assist commercial property owners/occupiers to undertake the necessary repairs and redecoration to improve the external appearance of their buildings.

Objectives

To improve business frontages including retail, commercial and service premises; To enhance the appearance and appeal of retail centres to visitors and the local population –

helping to convert more browsers into customers; To preserve and enhance the special characteristics of the conservation areas, listed buildings

and other buildings of public importance; To encourage inward investment, and To stimulate business and consumer confidence.

Funding

Grants are available up to a maximum of £5,000 per applicant, or 50% of the total costs, whichever is the lesser.

Retrospective applications for work already being carried out or completed cannot be considered.

The scheme will be open from July 2017 and run until the funding has been exhausted.

Who Can Apply?

Owners and tenants of business premises, especially those located within Whitehaven, Millom, Egremont and Cleator Moor town centres.

Inclusion of a building within an eligible area does not give automatic entitlement to a grant.

Copeland Pride of Place Town Centre Regeneration Scheme: Guidance Notes

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Making an Application

You should invite the Project Officer to visit your building prior to an application being submitted to advise you on your proposed scheme and application.

Applicants are advised to submit applications as early as possible and well in advance of any start date for the proposed works. Applicants should ensure that no grant-aided project work is commenced prior to an application being approved and a grant offer letter issued.

Applicants will need to fully complete the application form and include with the application form:

o two quotes for the workso any drawings of the proposed works (if required)o photos of the building before works commence.

All relevant permissions (e.g. planning, building regulations, etc) must be in place prior to application. The applicant is responsible for ensuring all necessary permissions are in place.

Grant payment can only be claimed from the council once the project has been completed and all expenditure incurred. PLEASE NOTE: Evidence of expenditure (bank statements/ receipts) will be required before a grant payment will be made.

Eligible Works

The grant will only fund works to improve the visual appearance of commercial properties.

Eligible works are aimed at the principle ground floor trading elevation of a property.

External treatments may be considered above ground floor level for buildings in prominent locations.

Eligible works include, but are not limited to, the following:

Repair and reinstatement of all or any part of a ground floor shop front; New signage or refurbishment of existing signs; Re-painting of external frontages; Re-pointing, repair and cleaning of external stonework and brickwork; New ground floor windows and shop doors; Physical improvements to a shop entrance to improve disabled access in conjunction with

property repairs; New or replacement awnings and blinds; “Shop Jacket” or other professional window treatments that enhance empty shop premises,

but only in conjunction with property repairs. Professional fees may be included, such as architect fees, etc.

The scheme will not fund the following:

Any works of repair or improvement that are not undertaken by a professional contractor; General pedestrian access improvements; Externally mounted security features.

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Planning Permission

All work that results in a material change to the external appearance of a shop may require planning permission. It is advisable to speak with the Council’s planning team prior to completing an application. Email: devcontrol@copeland.gov.uk or phone: 01946 598300.

All applications will be expected to comply with the principles set out in the Council’s draft Conservation Area Design Guide (SPD).

Criteria for Assessment of Applications

As funding is limited, all applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

Location – priority will be given to town centre properties in Whitehaven, Cleator Moor, Egremont and Millom.

Value for Money – It is expected that the applicant will accept the lowest quote. Where this is not the case, any grant offer will be based on the lowest quote.

Context – the scheme should demonstrate how it improves the property overall and should show a sympathetic relationship to the local built environment.

Conservation – the scheme should reference the draft Conservation Area Design Guide (SPD) principles where appropriate.

Commercial Offer – the scheme will contribute to the development and marketing of the business with potential to increase business revenues.

Requirements of ALL Applicants

All applicants must ensure that they have completed / provided all the necessary documents before submission.

Please ask for advice if you have any questions or are not sure what is required.

If you do not own the building you must provide proof of ownership and show you have permission from the property owner to undertake the proposed works.

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Application Process

Stage 1 – Initial Enquiry:

Contact the council to discuss your proposed scheme to ensure eligibility; If the criteria are met, arrange a visit with the Project Officer to come and assess your scheme; Review Guidance for Applicants, Terms & Conditions, Application Form and the draft

Conservation Area Design Guide (SPD); Obtain two quotes for the proposed works; Check, and obtain where relevant, key permissions, i.e. planning permission and advertisement

consent.

Stage 2 – Making an Application:

Ensure you have the relevant permissions, quotes and photos of the building in place; Confirm that no work has started; Complete the Application Form and submit to the Council with all supporting documents; Application reviewed and is approved, rejected or a request for more information is made; Where formal grant offer letter is issued, applicant returns a signed Acceptance of Grant Form,

accepting the Terms and Conditions of the grant prior to works commencing.

Stage 3 – Building Works to Grant Payment

Work on site – to be completed within 6 months of the grant offer; Owner/tenant confirms works completed and submits claim form; Checks made that works are complete and payments against invoices defrayed from bank

account; Grant payment processed within 30 days.

For more information, advice or assistance please contact: Diane Ward: Economic Development Officer Tel: 01946 598433 email: shopfront@copeland.gov.uk Terms & Conditions, Guidance Notes and the Draft Conservation Area Design Guide (SPD) are available at www.copeland.gov.uk

DISCLAIMER

The Town Centre Regeneration Scheme can be withdrawn at any time; The Town Centre Regeneration Scheme Project Board’s decision is final; Copeland Borough Council reserves the right to refuse applications without further

comment.

Copeland Pride of Place Town Centre Regeneration Scheme: Guidance Notes