Vacant Commercial Units Fund
This scheme has now closed
Trowbridge high street has faced many challenges recently with changing shopping habits and COVID-19. The £16,347,056 investment from central government's Future High Streets Fund will help transform Trowbridge town centre into a vibrant place to live, work and shop.
As part of this investment, we launched the Vacant Commercial Units Fund. This was a discretionary grants scheme offering funding to businesses and organisations to bring vacant commercial units back into use. It supported the refurbishment of vacant commercial units to encourage independent businesses and start-ups and encourage the conversion of upper floors of commercial premises, creating additional residential accommodation.
Videos showcasing successful businesses
The following videos showcase those businesses that brought a vacant unit back into use in Trowbridge town centre using this scheme.
YouTube: Wiltshire Council - Parade House and The Screening Room (opens new window)
About the scheme
The scheme aimed to:
- achieve a more compact and vibrant high street
- encourage the diversification and revitalisation of the Trowbridge town centre through direct investment to deliver new homes, workspace and space for emerging and independent businesses on the high street
£1.9 million was allocated to this grant scheme, with small and large grants available in two ranges:
- small grant awards between £2,500 and £24,999
- large grant awards from £25,000 and £100,000
Grants over £100,000 were considered in exceptional circumstances where you could demonstrate the activity will be transformative and act as a catalyst to economic growth in Trowbridge.
Grant applications must be for improvements to properties located in Trowbridge town centre and you must contribute at least 25% of the total costs of the investment.
We hope the scheme will attract applications from commercial property owners, business owners, directors and landlords.
Applicants were encouraged to read the Trowbridge VCUF guidance notes (PDF, 1011 KB)(opens new window) for applicants before submitting their application. It provided a useful checklist to ensure all the necessary information was provided to support their application.
The application and the supporting evidence was emailed to FHSF@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) once complete.
Online webinar
On 27 September 2022 the Future High Streets Fund team hosted a webinar on the Vacant Commercial Units Fund grant scheme in Trowbridge followed by a question and answer session. A recording of this webinar can be accessed below.
Webinar (with subtitles): YouTube: Wiltshire Council - Vacant Commercial Units Fund grant scheme – 27 September 2022 (opens new window).
We originally stated that the closing date for applications for this scheme was 24 November 2023, however it would close sooner if the funds set aside was committed to projects beforehand. As we have such a healthy pipeline of projects, and we are nearing our budget ceiling we announced that the deadline for receipt of applications had been brought forward to 31 July 2023.
In the Autumn, the grant panel will make decisions on the applications received and the remaining funds available so there is a fair process for everyone who had applied by this date.
Frequently asked questions
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