A community-led initiative has been launched, administered by Breckland Council, to support the improvement of shopfronts across the district.
Eligibility
Commercial units and community services shop frontages within Breckland District, including existing businesses and owners of vacant properties, are eligible to apply for the grant.
Applicants must be
- Freehold owners; or
- Leaseholders who are named on their lease and tenants of premises within Breckland Tenants.
Tenants must have the building owner’s prior written approval.
Further information
The grant is discretionary and subject to the availability of funds. Work must not start before a formal grant offer is made, and retrospective funding is not available.
Grants are available for external improvements to ground and upper floor shops. Property owners are responsible for securing any required planning permission, listed building, or advertisement consents.
As part of the grant scheme requirements, the property must be maintained to a satisfactory standard for a minimum of three years.
Grant amount
- The grant will cover 75% of the eligible costs;
- Up to a maximum of £5,000; and
- Works must be able to be completed by 31 January 2026.
Design guidance
The scheme promotes quality materials, thoughtful detailing, and sympathetic signage to enhance both the building and the surrounding area.
All works should align with the shopfront design guide, which can be found here.
Not all improvement works will be funded through the scheme and applicants should consult the Shopfront Repair and Redecoration Guidance Notes for more details. It should be noted that, generally, the scheme will not fund lighting within window displays, window display equipment, externally mounted security features and general cleaning.
How to apply
Breckland Council require all applicants to submit
- An Application Form, including a detailed Schedule of Works;
- Proof of ownership/lease;
- Permission from the building owner (countersigned application);
- Details of permissions required to carry out the work;
- Cost estimates – quotes & fees;
- A current photo of the shopfront and visuals of planned improvements; and
- If applicable, evidence that you cannot reclaim VAT.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome within six weeks. Grants are paid upon submission of contractor invoices with a detailed cost breakdown, typically after project completion. Interim payments may be considered for larger projects.
How M+A Partners can help
M+A Partners are unable to process or advise on grant applications, but we will let you know of any grant opportunities in the Breckland area that we receive notification of.
