Monmouthshire County Council is urging businesses to take up remaining grant support to regenerate underused and redundant rural buildings.
Funded under the Welsh Government’s Rural Development Plan for Wales, the Rural Conversion Grant Scheme was established last year to support owners and microbusinesses to convert redundant and underutilised buildings into sustainable rural commercial premises. Support is available towards 50% of project costs up to a maximum of £30,000.
Two projects are approaching completion and four more are in the pipeline but a number of grants remain. The council is keen to ensure businesses looking to relocate to or expand in the county’s rural areas may benefit. The scheme is limited to certain wards and restricted to improvements that create office or workshop accommodation. Grants cannot be used for projects related to agriculture, forestry or tourism and applicants must provide evidence of employment creation.
‘There has been a lot of interest in the scheme, but naturally also caution about taking projects forward in the current financial climate”, explained Colin Phillips, Monmouthshire’s Special Projects Manager. “However we are starting to see a change in confidence but even if all current interest comes to fruition, there is still scope to consider another two projects.
Colin added: “This is a wonderful opportunity for owners and long leaseholders to access support to improve the sustainability of rural areas by providing high quality premises that sustain local employment.”
For an informal discussion please contact Colin Phillips on 01633 644848.
This project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
