MAKEOVERS for shop fronts in Rugby town centre are on offer after Rugby Borough Council set aside new funding as part of a four-year scheme.
The Town Centre Grant Frontages Scheme will allow businesses and landlords in the town centre to apply for up to £5,000 to get a new shopfront designed and approved through the planning process, and then a further grant of up to £20,000 to fund the works.
The scheme follows the success of the Council’s previous scheme delivered from UK Shared Prosperity Funding in 2024-25, where 10 grants with a value of over £90,000 were awarded to local businesses.
The shop frontage grant programme is part of the council’s wider regeneration plan to improve the town centre.
The scheme aims to make it easier for occupied and vacant units in key areas of the town to improve their appearance and make them more attractive to external investors.
The programme is open from April 2026 until the end of March 2029, but works will be allowed to continue until the end of March 2030.
Grants will be given to businesses that are visibly in poor condition and are having a negative impact on the area, as judged by site visits from council officers.
Funding will be targeted towards premises in Sheep Street and High Street during the first year of the scheme, before being extended to new areas – likely to be North Street, Railway Terrace, and Albert Street – in the second and third year.
Any business which successfully applies for the enabling grant can then apply for a works grant. While no match-funding is required for the enabling grant, a business applying for a works grant must match-fund at least 20 per cent of the cost.
Rugby Borough Council Leader Coun Michael Moran said: “Like many towns, shop frontages in Rugby town centre could be a lot better, and we want to work with occupiers and landlords to improve them in the areas that need them the most.
“The targeted approach we are taking will ensure these improvements will deliver maximum impact in the town centre while keeping the cost to taxpayers at a minimum.
“Improved shop frontages, whether at an occupied unit or a vacant one, can make such a difference to the feel of a town.
“We strongly believe that this scheme, alongside the several other projects we are delivering to improve the town centre, will make Rugby a better place to live, work, visit, and invest in, and we encourage eligible businesses to apply.”
Coun Jerry Roodhouse, Chair of the Rugby Town Centre Working Group, added: “We welcome this new scheme which will enable many businesses in the town centre to access the funding they need to improve their frontages.
“It clearly demonstrates our commitment to working together to not only support our town’s businesses, but improve the whole of Rugby town centre.”
All applicants will need to follow the council’s shopfront design guide, which will be included in the application pack for the grant. Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/w/town-centre-frontages-grant-programme for more information.
