Camborne Town Deal has launched a scheme which will transform vacant and run-down commercial properties in the town centre, giving both established and new Camborne businesses the opportunity to bid for grants to improve the appearance of the high street.
The scheme, known as Project A-Void, is being funded from a pot of accelerator funds released by the Government as part of its £3.6 billion Towns Fund Deal. There is a project budget of over £200k in total available with immediate effect, earmarked for the refurbishment of existing commercial properties and the delivery of streetscape improvements.
Local businesses can apply now for a refurbishment grant and will know the outcome of their application within four weeks. Project A-Void grants are open to owners of existing businesses, as well as to local entrepreneurs planning to open a new business who need support with refurbishment costs to make their plan a reality.
The project is being run and managed by Camborne Business Improvement District (BID), which will work closely the Camborne Town Deal Project A-Void panel to review all applications received.
Anna Pascoe, chair of the board of Camborne Town Deal, said: “From the recent feedback we received from Camborne residents, it is clear that there is a huge desire in our community to bring back a sense of pride in our town centre. Many people talked about the dilapidated shop fronts and run-down buildings, and the need for something to be done about this issue.
“Project A-Void means that there is money available to support the refurbishment of our high street. Local business owners can access grants which mean they can transform their properties into contemporary, well-maintained buildings that people are keen to visit.
“We’d encourage as many eligible businesses as possible to submit an application for this money. It’s a real opportunity to upgrade your properties and make a difference to the appearance of our town centre.”
Camborne Town Deal received over 900 responses from local residents and businesses in response to a survey canvassing for opinions about what was needed to make Camborne a better place to live and work – and a key theme emerging from this feedback was the need to improve the appearance of the town centre.
Project A-Void was set up in direct response to this community feedback. The grant application pack can be found here.
Camborne Town Deal Board was formed this summer to identify and implement projects in the town that will help build a prosperous future through innovative regeneration. As one of 100 towns throughout the UK to be selected for the Government’s Towns Fund Deal, Camborne now has the opportunity to bid for up to £25 million of funding, and the board will submit this bid in January.
£750k of advance funding was awarded to the Town Deal in an announcement last week, allowing work to start immediately on some regeneration projects. Project A-Void is funded from this accelerator funding.
