Southam’s shops front up to the future

Shops in Southam are set to benefit from a new grants scheme from Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

The grants scheme is aimed at assisting shop owners, whose premises are located in the designated town centre retail area, to help improve and enhance their existing shop frontages.

Shop owners can apply for up to £5,000 (50% match-funded) to support works which improve the presentation and promotion of their shops and which are in keeping with Southam's conservation area. Good examples would include repainting frontages, restoring original features and installing new, well-designed signage.

Funding is limited and will be offered to qualifying businesses on a first come, first served basis.

Councillor Mike Brain, Community Services Portfolio says: “High quality shop fronts create a strong visual impact making a town feel more welcoming to local residents and visitors.  Improving Southam's shop fronts through this new grants scheme will not only benefit individual businesses but enhance the look and feel of the town as a whole as well as encouraging more people to visit the shops."

For further information and an application form please contact Katherine Geddes, Dassett Area Co-ordinator at Stratford District Council on 01789 260102 or email  katherine.geddes@stratford-dc.gov.uk.

The grants scheme has been made possible through Section 106 funding and forms part of a package of improvements to support Southam Town Centre.

A Section 106 Agreement is a legal agreement between the Planning Authority and the applicant/developer and any others that may have an interest in the land.  Section 106 agreements are designed to help make sure new developments enhance local communities, and to reduce the impact of developments on local areas. They help to create better quality environments.