Shop Improvement Grants
Horsham District Council ran two grant schemes to facilitate projects which seek to make improvements to shops in Horsham District. These were as follows:
If you have any queries, please contact the Economic Development Team at BusinessDevelopment@horsham.gov.uk.
Shop Improvement Grants for businesses
Shop Improvement Grants for Businesses are a small injection of funding up to the value of £4,000 aimed at independent businesses based in Horsham District, with a physical shop presence. The grant can be used towards the key improvements that businesses need to make to their premises and / or in-store operations.
To apply, you must be:
- Registered with Companies House or HMRC
- Must have a physical shop presence within Horsham District
- Not be part of any regional, national, or international chain or franchise
- Located in Horsham District
- Have 25% match funding in place
- Able to provide evidence of having engaged with the Virtual Learning Hub Training Programme before the grant will be paid
Eligible project expenditure includes: building works, permanent displays or lighting, decoration etc. but does NOT include salaries, overheads, rent or stock.
Where applicable, successful applicants must have checked that they have all required planning permissions and consents in place for their project before any grant funding will be paid. You can access general planning advice through our Duty Officer Advice Service.
Apply for the Shop Improvement Grant for businesses
Applying is easy. All you need to do is fill in our online application form and include the following:
- Details of the project you are applying for and how it will help establish or future-proof your business
- The timescale of the project you are intending to use the funding for. Please note that all successful applicants must have spent their grant by the deadline defined on their grant offer email.
- A breakdown of how you will use the grant, plus your own financial contributions. Use our Shop Improvement Grant for Businesses project expenditure sheet.
- Certificates from the Virtual Learning Hub Training if you have already completed the training at the time of application.
Shop Improvement Grants for landlords
Shop Improvement Grants for Landlords are a small injection of funding up to the value of £4,000 aimed at landlords, who own a vacant shop premises in Horsham District. The grant can be used towards the key improvements that landlords need to make to their vacant unit with a view to gaining long-term tenants.
To apply, you must:
- Be a landlord and own a physical shop presence within Horsham District
- Have 50% match funding in place
- Be applying for vacant premises that are ground floor and whose intended use is retail/café/restaurant
- Only use the grant towards the vacant property for which you are applying for
- Not be the owner and occupier of the premises. Instead, please apply for the Shop Improvement Grant for Businesses
Eligible project expenditure includes: shopfront, floor/ceiling finishes, electrics and lighting, broadband connectivity, making the unit more DDA compliant, building works, etc. but does NOT include salaries, overheads, stripping out or units other than the vacant premises you are applying for.
Where applicable, successful applicants must have checked that they have all required planning permissions and consents in place for their project before any grant funding will be paid. You can access general planning advice through our Duty Officer Advice Service.
Horsham District Council reserves the right to request the return of any grant paid should the landlord sell the freehold within 1 year of receiving the grant.
Apply for the Shop Improvement Grant for landlords
Applying is easy. All you need to do is fill in our online application form and include the following:
- Details of the project you are applying for, how the grant will help increase the potential for your premises to become occupied and how it will benefit the local high street.
- The timescale of the project you are intending to use the funding for. Please note that all successful applicants must have spent their grant by Monday 14 March 2022.
- A breakdown of how you will use the grant, plus your own financial contributions. Use our Shop Improvement Grant for Landlords project expenditure sheet.