Shop Front Grants 2025 – Expressions of Interest

The Transforming Towns programme is a partnership between Powys County Council, Ceredigion County Council, and the Welsh Government, and aims to reimagine and recreate buildings and open spaces to create resilient and thriving town centres.  Part of this initiative is to improve shop frontages in town centres.

The good news is that following on from last year’s successful ‘Shop Fronts’ initiative, which saw grant aided improvements to a number of businesses in Knighton, a new round of funding will take place in 2025.

The new round will be managed by Knighton Town Council, assisted by volunteers from Knighton Town Forum.  While we are confident that the initiative will go ahead, we are waiting to hear from Powys CC about its detailed terms of operation.  However, these are expected to closely follow last year’s, which were as follows:

• Generally, the proposed works should be costed at under £20,000
• Grant support is at 70%, with the applicant funding 30%
• However, the applicant must pay 100% of the costs up front and then reclaim the 70% grant
• To support this, applicants will have to provide evidence of their ability to pay the match funding
• Written quotes for the work are required to support the application.  For works up to £5,000 one quote is acceptable; for works over £5,000 three quotes are required (or firm evidence of attempts to get three quotes)
• Tenants of premises to be improved must provide: (i) details of the lease agreement expiry date (at least 5 years should be remaining or an extension negotiated); and (ii) written permission from the landlord
• Where relevant, planning consent and listed building consent must be obtained
• Works should be external (i.e. to shop frontages)

The timescale is quite tight. Applicants will need to submit an Expression of Interest form to Knighton Town Council by 30 April 2025 (however, supporting quotes etc may follow on).  Following formal approval, works must be completed by 31 December 2025.  A public meeting will be held at the Civic Centre to talk through the process with potential applicants and answer questions.

Those businesses who completed an Expression of Interest form last year, but who were unable to proceed in the time available, will be contacted by Town Councillor Ben Butler or a member of Knighton Town Forum, with the aim of supporting reactivation for 2025 (if so desired).

So, if you occupy business premises in Knighton town centre which you would like to refurbish and make more attractive, then first pick up a 2025 Expression of Interest form without delay – these are available to download below: