Lichfield District Council

Heritage Shopfront Grant Scheme

Grants of up to £30,000 towards restoring or improving shopfronts in the Lichfield City Centre Conservation Area, for property owners, leaseholders with landlord consent and independent businesses. There are three tiers: up to 75% (max £30,000) for full heritage reinstatement, up to 50% (max £15,000) for partial restoration and up to 30% (max £7,500) for minor enhancements such as signage and lighting, so the applicant always contributes. The council's scheme totals £400,000 and is competitive; expressions of interest are taken on a rolling basis until 31 March 2028 or until the money is committed.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £30,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

Freehold property owners, leaseholders with written landlord consent, independent business occupants, and social enterprises or community-run businesses, for a property with a public-facing shopfront inside the Lichfield City Centre Conservation Area
Applicants must show ownership or tenancy and a clear commitment to the property's ongoing occupation and use, contribute towards the cost, and secure all permissions (landlord consent, planning permission, listed building consent) before any grant is paid
Priority goes to independent businesses, identified priority locations (hotspots and gateways) and heritage-sensitive buildings needing timely repair
The grant is subject to subsidy control and paid only into a business trading account

What it funds

Works that reinstate historic features or align with the City Centre Shopfront Design Code, including:

Repair and reinstatement of traditional timber shopfronts
Installation of period-appropriate glazing and detailing
Reinstatement of features such as pilasters, cornices, stallrisers, and fascias
Use of traditional paint colours in line with the Design Code
Removal of inappropriate modern features (e.g. uPVC frames, external roller shutters, oversized fascias)
Hand-painted fascia signage or individually applied lettering
Heritage-appropriate projecting signs
Discreet or heritage-style lighting that complements the building
Repair of timber frames, stonework, and brick detailing
Restoration of original shopfront proportions and features
Accessibility improvements, including entrance and threshold works designed to improve access while preserving character
High-quality external decoration, including painting and finishing works
Professional design fees, only where they relate directly to the approved project and have been agreed by the council in writing before the cost is incurred

Full heritage reinstatement: up to 75% of costs, max £30,000. Partial restoration (e.g. fascia, stallriser, heritage repainting): up to 50%, max £15,000. Minor enhancements (e.g. signage, lighting): up to 30%, max £7,500.

What it will not fund

Internal works, or anything not visible from the public street frontage
Works started or completed before grant approval
Costs already paid or contractually committed before written approval
Inappropriate materials, such as uPVC where traditional materials are required
Temporary or non-permanent works
Ongoing revenue costs, including utilities, staffing, rent or general business expenses
Internal fixtures, fittings or equipment not related to the shopfront
Professional fees, unless agreed in advance
Recoverable VAT
Planning fees, statutory consents and application costs
Applications from national chains (unless, in heritage-sensitive cases, operating as a local franchise)
Residential properties
Long-term vacant premises without a clear occupation strategy
Businesses with unresolved and ongoing enforcement issues (case by case)
Businesses selling illegal goods or operating outside the terms of their licence

How to apply

Read the Applicant Guidance Pack and check the property and works are eligible; the regeneration team can discuss an idea first
Submit a short online expression of interest: the property, what you want to improve, how it would benefit the shopfront, with photographs of the existing shopfront (no designs or full costings needed)
If eligible, you are invited to a full application with detailed designs, quotations and supporting information, assessed by an officer panel with member oversight
If successful, sign a Grant Agreement; start work within six months and finish within twelve, then claim in arrears with invoices, receipts and photographs

Do not commission detailed designs, appoint contractors or commit to costs until the council confirms in writing. Decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

Have ready

Photographs of the existing shopfront (expression of interest)
Detailed designs and quotations (full application)
Organisation registration details (e.g. Charity Commission or Companies House)
Contact details for an authorised representative
A recent bank statement for the account the grant will be paid into
Subsidy control declaration

For grants of £5,000-£25,000 the council may also ask for the most recent annual accounts, governance documents, a project budget, a brief delivery plan and financial or credit checks. Evidence of planning and other consents is needed before payment.

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