Shop Front Grant Scheme

 1.      Scope – criteria:

Category 1 - New shopfront: 

Applies to new shopfronts to existing shops & premises.

Grant assistance is limited to 50% of the shopfront cost with a maximum allowable grant of up to €3,500.00 per applicant.

Category 2 - Shopfront Improvements - existing Original Shop fronts.

Limited to the repair and conservation of existing original shopfronts.

Grant assistance is limited to 50% of the Improvement cost with a maximum grant allowable of up to €1,500.00 per applicant.

Exclusions:

• Works above ground floor (street) level.

• Internal works to the shop or premises.

• Repair & alteration works to contemporary existing shopfronts.

• Electrical or Mechanical works.  

2.      Designated Area:

The 2010 Castlebar Shopfront Grant Scheme is limited to those streets designated for refurbishment under the Castlebar Town Centre Regeneration Project. Those streets are:

• Ellison Street

• Castle Street

• Shamble Street &

  Market Square

  .

• Market Street

• Bridge Street

• Linenhall St

  .

• Tucker St

  .

• New

  Antrim Street

• Rush Street

  ,

3.      Statutory Requirements:

In accordance with the Planning & Development Act 2000 to 2006 and the Planning & Development Regulations 2001 to 2008, it is a legal and statutory requirement that planning permission will be required for the following development:

Installation of a New Shopfront. Details required to be included in the shopfront planning application are set out below.

Alterations or works to a protected structure or a proposed protected structure.

4.      Eligibility

• Owners

• Proprietors

• Lease holders or tenants(with the written permission of the owner) of any premises or shop located in the designated area may apply for grant assistance under the Shopfront Grant Scheme.  

5.      Ensuring Quality

The application procedure sets out requirements of the applicant that must be fully addressed. The proposed shopfront or proposed shopfront improvements when completed must make a positive contribution to the streetscape. The removal of existing inappropriate shopfronts, fittings & fixtures on the applicant’s premises is also endorsed. Guidance on the design and restoration of shopfronts is available from the offices of Castlebar Town Council.  

6.      Qualifying Criteria

i)  Making an application.

• Application forms are available form the offices of Castlebar Town Council.

• The applicant must indicate their legal interest in the property e.g. proprietor, tenant, leaseholder.

• The applicant must provide written permission from shop owner if lessee or tenant

• The completed application form must be signed by the applicant.

• Category 01 – New Shopfront applications must be lodged with the required planning permission or a current planning reference number.

• Category 02 – Shopfront Improvement applications must be accompanied by the details as set out in section 6 iii).

• Completed application forms must be returned to the offices of the Town Clerk, Castlebar Town Council, Marsh House,  Castlebar, Co.Mayo.

• The closing date for the receipt of completed applications  is 4p.m. on   Tuesday 1^st June  2010.

• Incomplete applications will be deemed invalid.  

ii)  Requirements of Category 1 – New Shopfront applications:

• Completed shopfront grant application form

• A set of completed planning application drawings compiled in accordance with the Planning & Development Act 2000 to 2006 & Planning & Development Regulations 2001 to 2008.

• Samples photographs of shopfronts, consoles, signage, colours, fascia, materials and other details as appropriate to fully describe the design intention.  

iii)   Requirements of Category 2 - Shopfront Improvements - existing Original Shop fronts.

Limited to repair of timber joinery, stone masonry or plaster. The conservation / restoration of original features and fittings and the removal of inappropriate contemporary fittings inc. signage and reinstatement of original features.  

• 1:50 contextual elevations or digital photographs of the existing structure.

• 1:20 elevations & sections of the existing structure and the proposed shopfront 1:10 and or 1:5 detailed sections as appropriate to describe the improvement works. (if appropriate)

• Summary of how the improvement / restoration works will be carried out and what positive contribution it shall have both in terms of the shopfront itself and the wider context of the street.

Note: If the existing original shopfront is a protected structure or the host building to which it forms a part is a protected structure, the proposed improvement works will require planning permission.   

7.      Timescale.

• The closing date for the receipt of application forms is the 1^st June 2010.

• Works not requiring planning permission can commence upon receipt of notice form Castlebar Town Council.

• Works that require planning permission can not commence until the final decision of grant of permission issues by the Local Authority.

• The works must be completed by the end of November 2010 and a notice of completion lodged with the Town Clerk, Castlebar Town Council on or before 4.00pm 30^th November 2010.

• The notice of completion must stipulate the assigned reference number, the applicants name, the property name, the commencement date and the date of completion. Receipted Invoices must accompany the ‘notice of completion’.  

Note: It is important that all of the required information is submitted with a  planning application.

8.      Compliance & Drawdown:

Drawdown of grant assistance monies shall only issue provided the applicant is in compliance with the following:

• The award of a shopfront grant is linked to the named applicant and the premises in question. It cannot under any circumstances be reassigned.

• A notice of completion is lodged with Castlebar Town Council on or before 4.00pm the 01^st November 2010.

• Receipted invoices for works pertaining to the shopfront are lodged along with the notice of completion.

• The applicants submits a tax clearance certificate for the relevant tax year.

• The contractor submits a C2 for the relevant tax year.

• The works are substantially in compliance with the approved details – subject to final inspection and verification by Castlebar Town Council.  

Castlebar Town Council encourages the use of Irish in shop front signage