UK Shared Prosperity Funding
Street Enhancement Programme
Pembrokeshire Streetscape Paint Scheme (2024)
Guidance and how to apply
On this page:
- Introduction
- Eligibility
- What can you use the Grant for?
- What you cannot use the Grant for
- Application and Assessment
- Procurement Rules
- Subsidy Control
- Post Completion - Terms and Conditions
- Clawback of Funds
- Data Protection
- How to Apply
Guidance is subject to change.
1. Introduction
As part of our ongoing commitment to Regeneration in Pembrokeshire, we are delivering the Streetscape Paint Scheme that is funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
The aim of the grant intervention is to improve the attractiveness of town centre properties in order to encourage footfall and support businesses and organisations to create new jobs and strengthen the mix of businesses within the town centre whilst improving the overall look of the surrounding area.
The Streetscape Paint Scheme offers a grant of 80%, up to a maximum grant value of £4,999, towards the total expenditure of repainting external property facades of town centre properties in the town centre zones of Fishguard and Goodwick, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock Tenby, St Davids, Narberth, Saundersfoot and Crymych.
2. Eligibility
The fund will support owners of eligible properties and tenants/leaseholders who have the written consent of the property owner.
The Streetscape Paint Scheme includes the town centre areas for the following towns: Fishguard and Goodwick, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Tenby, St Davids, Narberth, Saundersfoot and Crymych. Please contact us to find out the eligible area of phases currently in progress.
The façade of the property must be visible from the street the property is located on.
Local Authority Charges due by applicants must be paid up to date.
3. What can you use the grant for?
The grant is awarded for the painting of the front and any other street facing elevations of all premises, both occupied and vacant within the town centre boundaries specified above and can be used for the purchase of materials (primer, masonry undercoat and exterior masonry paint) or towards the cost of using a contractor. It is appreciated that additional factors may need to be considered for certain properties and as such these costs, such as scaffolding and preparation work, will be considered as part of the application.
Applicants are able to request funding for materials only and will need to submit copies of receipts when making a grant claim for 80% of these costs. Where a contractor is used, the level of grant will be based on meeting 80% of costs of the selected supplier and provide a written quotation to confirm the costs.
The maximum grant award per property is £4,999.
Applicants to the Streetscape Paint Scheme can only apply once per property, but can also benefit from independent applications made to other SPF activities including Placemaking Grant, the Pembrokeshire Business Growth Fund or the Sustainable Communities Grants. However, note the Subsidy Control section below.
Repainting Historic Buildings Guidance
The repainting of Listed Buildings in a different colour requires Listed Building Consent. Re-painting on a like for like basis or with a close colour match, such as white to off-white does not require Listed Building Consent.
Non-listed Buildings in Conversation Areas, if they are dwellings, do not need Planning Permission to repaint or change their colour, but buildings may need planning permission but it will depend on the extent of colour change.
Colours of exterior walls should be soft pastel colours that match natural stone and earth pigments in Pembrokeshire. These include:
- Whites and off-whites
- Light greys
- Buffs
- Yellow ochre
- Light yellows
- Pale pinks
- Pink-greys.
Many of these colours are available from commercial paint ranges such as Dulux Heritage or Farrow & Ball or the Little Greene Paint Company and can be widely colour matched.
Timber windows should be painted in the following:
- Light Greys
- Off-Whites
- Black
- Dark Reds
Timber front doors, fascias, and shopfronts can be painted in pastel colours or primary colours:
- Dark blues
- Dark Greens
- Dark Reds
- Greys
- Black
These colours also apply to metal fixtures and fittings such as rainwater pipes, gutters and railings. If necessary, limewash may be considered on a case by case basis.
Surfaces should be repaired as necessary then cleaned and prepared prior to repainting.
Many common masonry paint brands are not breathable and might be unsuitable for historic buildings. Before repainting, the building should be inspected for any damp problems. If damp problems are found, their cause should be identified and remedied. It is recommended that the existing masonry paint is removed using a poultice system to allow the render and walls to dry out, before repainting in breathable masonry paint. Existing damaged render including decorative stucco, should be repaired on a like for like basis or renewed in lime render/stucco depending on the presence of dampness within the building. The condition of each building will vary on a case by case basis.
Listed building consent and advice on Conservation Areas can be obtained by contacting the Conservation Officer for the appropriate area:
Pembrokeshire County Council
Conservation of the Historic Environment
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Listed buildings - Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (opens in a new tab)
4. What you cannot use the grant for
No expenditure should be incurred before grant approval, as the grants cannot be awarded retrospectively. This includes work for which contracts have already been signed or orders placed, before funding approval.
If the business is VAT registered, then VAT will be ineligible. VAT will be payable in cases of non-VAT registered companies where VAT is not recoverable.
Cash purchases will not be considered for grant payment.
Items purchased through lease purchase, hire purchase, extended credit agreements/finance leases will not be considered for grant funding.
Ineligible expenditure includes: -
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General revenue expenditure such as, staff costs or any other taxes, hire purchase/lease purchases.
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Replacement of existing fixtures and fittings.
5. Application and Assessment
This is an open call for applications. The last date for receipt of applications is end September 2024. Schemes must be able to be completed by end November 2024.
If the scheme is oversubscribed the applicants eligible to continue in the application process will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
The applicants eligible to continue in the application process will be notified by email within 28 days of receipt of application.
The successful applicants will be required to obtain all necessary consents and comply with legislation and codes of practice including health and safety which apply to such works.
It should be noted that the Pembrokeshire Streetscape Paint Scheme is a discretionary grant and is subject to assessment for value for money and approval by Pembrokeshire County Council. Each application will be assessed by a panel that meets monthly, to consider applications that meet the standard.
Please Note: Applications must be fully completed before they are presented to panel so essential requirements such as match funding, Listed Building Consent (where applicable), etc. must be confirmed before the grant team will prepare the application for consideration at panel.
Funding will not be paid for retrospective works and PCC reserves the right to reject any application.
6. Procurement rules - Getting quotes
When procuring works, goods and services, applicants are expected to conduct the process in a manner that ensures openness, value for money and fairness and must follow the procurement procedures as they are outlined in this section.
When providing details of costs to support your application, please ensure that total project costs are provided so that the grant value can be calculated appropriately. Details on whether VAT is to be added should also be included in the quotation.
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For schemes where the applicant completes work themselves, copies of receipts for all materials must be submitted to claim 80% of costs, up to a maximum grant value of £4,999. The original receipts must be retained by the applicant.
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For schemes where the applicant uses a contractor, a written quotation must be provided. For projects above £5000 we encourage that a minimum of three written quotations be sought from competitive sources to ensure best value. The quotes must be based on the same specification and evaluated on a like for like basis. We are able, however, to consider applications where one written quotation has been provided.
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A documented record of the quotes sought, the evaluation process and the decision to award should be recorded.
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Records of decision-making regarding the selection of the nominated supplier must be retained for audit and claim purposes.
Avoiding conflicts of interest in procurement
We recognise it is possible applicants or persons connected with them (such as relatives, business partners or friends) may wish to tender for a contract being offered by the applicant.
This is acceptable, but applicants will need to ensure that the tendering process is undertaken in an open, transparent and in a fair manner, as outlined above, which does not give one person or company tendering any advantage over another, which arises from the process. If an applicant / developer or any person connected with them, has an interest in any of the potential bids for a contract offered:
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That applicant/developer, person or party with an interest must outline that interest in writing.
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That person or party with an interest should take no part whatsoever in any of the tender evaluation procedures.
7. Subsidy Control
This scheme is covered by the current UK Government Subsidy Control Act 2022 and is being administered as Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA). The total amount of Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) received over a rolling period of three fiscal years may not exceed £315,000 per business. It is the applicant's responsibility to monitor the level of Minimum Financial Assistance received. You will be asked to confirm that this will not be exceeded in the event of an offer being made. [Please note that the MFA limit applies at company group level.]
Grants will only be awarded in compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022.
8. Terms and Conditions
Grants will not be offered or paid if the business or applicant is in arrears with any payment to any of the participating local authorities operating the scheme.
Should the application be successful, the grant money is paid directly into the bank account of the applicant business. This is based on receipt or evidence of purchase and defrayment i.e. original or on-line printed bank statements and original invoices to confirm expenditure.
The applicant must accept the terms and conditions of the grant by completing the Notification of Approval and Terms & Conditions within 30 days from receipt. All expenditure associated to the grant must be completed within 3 months of the date of approval letter by end October 2024 whichever is the earliest date. No extension will be given for the submission of the claim.
Should the project not proceed within the period stipulated in the offer of grant, the offer of grant will automatically lapse. Any variation to the Terms & Conditions set out in the Approval Letter must be requested and agreed.
Any deviations to the application in terms of suppliers and expenditure must be requested to the grant team prior to purchase. Failure to seek approval may result in the grant not being paid for those items.
Limited Companies must use the business bank account to purchase all the items associated to the grant. It is encouraged for Sole Traders and partnerships that all goods purchased in relation to the grant are purchased using the business bank account. Cash purchases will not be considered for grant payment. Items purchased with credit cards are eligible, but applicants will need to evidence the transaction on their credit card bill. Limited companies must use the business credit cards to purchase items associated to the grant rather than personal cards of the director(s).
This is a discretionary grant payable upon completion, final date of submission of claims will be 6th December 2024. Claims submitted after this date will not be paid. Please allow 28 days for processing.
The applicant will be held liable for the extent of works carried out and on behalf of the applicant. No liability shall be accepted in respect of works by Pembrokeshire County Council. The Council shall not be held responsible for any loss or damage to property, materials or injuries to individuals caused by the personal actions of the applicant or the person(s) undertaking the works on their behalf before, during or after such works have been carried out.
The applicant will take appropriate and practical measures to ensure the environment in which works are being carried out is safe to avoid risk of injury to themselves, and/or other parties. The Council accepts no liability for the actions of the applicant or their appointed contractor which result in damage or injury to persons or property. Please note that where a contractor is engaged to deliver the work, the Contract is between the applicant and the painting contractor. All contractors carrying out works must be tax compliant.
The successful applicants will be required to complete the approved works, in a satisfactory manner, on or before the final claim date supplying photographic evidence and copies of invoices and proof of payment, prior to payment release. In some instances, a site visit will be required before payment is approved.
The successful applicants will be required to complete the approved works, in a satisfactory manner, and within a specified time frame. Failure to achieve the committed outputs could result in non-payment of the grant.
The successful applicants must apply for payment of the approved grant (by submitting receipts for painting materials or contractor invoices) when work has been completed and in any event before 6th December, 2024.
The paint scheme using this funding must be maintained for at least 6 months following of the final payment of grant or 31st March 2025; whichever is the earliest date.
9. Repayment of Grant Funds
The grant must be repaid in full on demand if the applicant:
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Is found to have made any misrepresentation in connection with the application.
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Subsequently incurs significant variance to the paint scheme, from the details that you provided in your application (eg. colour, materials, quality), within the economic life of the work.
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If it should emerge that a grant has been paid other than in compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022 it will be recovered with interest.
10. Data Protection & Privacy
Pembrokeshire County Council is the data controller for the personal information you provide on this form. Your information will be used in the exercise of our official authority and will not be used for any other purpose. Please note that we may check the data you provide here against other Council and UK Government datasets in order to verify your application and prevent fraud. For further information on how Pembrokeshire County Council handles your data, please see our corporate privacy notice.
The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with fraud prevention agencies who will use it to prevent fraud and money laundering and to verify your identity. If fraud is detected, you could be refused certain services, finance, or employment. Further details of how your information will be used by us and these fraud prevention agencies, and your data protection rights, can be found by visiting: CIFAS (opens in a new tab)
11. How to Apply
To make a full application, please click the link below to apply online. Upon receipt of your application, our team will review and contact you via email to request confirmation of costings and any other remaining information required to progress the application.
You can find the form in the link below. If you require paper copies of the form, please contact the team on spfstreetenhancement@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Pembrokeshire Streetscape Paint Scheme Application 2024 (opens in a new tab)
