Outdoor adaptation grants rolled out across villages, towns and valleys

Commercial property and business owners in communities all across Bridgend County Borough are being invited to apply for grants of up to £10,000 to make outdoor adaptations which enable social distancing to take place.

The Outdoor Improvements Covid-19 Recovery Fund targets external areas where customers and members of the public can congregate, rest or be served food and drink.

The funding is open to applications from all communities, and can be used for a variety of adaptations such as outdoor canopies, outdoor furniture, planters and more.

The grant provides funding of up to 80 per cent or a maximum value of £10,000 of the total eligible improvement costs, with a minimum of 20 per cent of the total project costs met by the applicant

Up until now, only business and property owners in the county borough’s urban areas have been able to apply for funding. As we realised there was a need for this right across the county borough, we are delighted that our work with funders has been successful in bringing about the additional grant aid for businesses in all villages, towns and valleys.

The funding supports improvements that enable people to socially distance when using external areas where customers and members of the public can congregate, whether waiting, dining or resting.

It means that with the council match-funding of £350,000, a grant of up to £360,000 from the Valleys Task Force and the existing £350,000 already available for urban centres via the Transforming Towns fund, the total available to businesses and property owners is over £1 million.

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Charles Smith

Eligible items for grant funding include:

• Outdoor tables, chairs and seating provision
  Outdoor awnings, canopies, igloo bubbles, outdoor heating, marquee coverings
  Outdoor screening, bollards, planters
  Outdoor servery facilities
  Green infrastructure schemes

Other interventions to facilitate outdoors social distancing can also be considered, such as shopfront modifications or courtyard / rear-garden improvements

The grant is a partnership between Welsh Government and the local authority.

To find out more, visit the council’s business support webpage or email the Regeneration team on regeneration@bridgend.gov.uk