GrantRadar

North Ayrshire Council

Repurposing Property Grant Fund

North Ayrshire Council's fund to help owners and community groups bring vacant, derelict or at-risk land and buildings in North Ayrshire back into use. Stage 1 pays 100% of feasibility study costs (up to £10,000, or £25,000 for sites over 0.1 hectare) and Stage 2 pays 50% of project development costs such as detailed design and consents (up to £20,000, or £50,000 for larger sites); a Stage 3 for construction is expected to launch in late 2026. Applications start with an expression of interest, and the fund has awarded over £550,000 to date.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £50,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Landowners and community groups with legal ownership of the property or site in North Ayrshire, or a long leasehold (at least 10 years); where there are several owners, all or most must agree and be willing to meet non-participating owners' share of costs
  • The property must be vacant, underused or derelict (or at risk of becoming so), of strategic importance (e.g. heritage value, prominence or high visibility) and have potential to stimulate wider regeneration
  • Grants are not normally available to businesses that are part of a chain (three or more outlets) or had turnover over £1 million in the previous year, applicants who already had council help for similar works on the property or RPGF feasibility funding in the past year, properties without direct access from a public highway or subject to an active council planning or protective services notice, or applicants indebted to the council
  • There must be no outstanding legal disputes over the site
  • Grants are Minimal Financial Assistance (total not to exceed £315,000 over three financial years), and applicants must follow the Fair Work Principles
  • Priority goes to heritage or listed structures, prominent town-centre sites, projects with match funding, and evidence of local need

What it funds

Stage 1 Project Feasibility (100% grant, up to £10,000 for sites under 0.1 hectare or £25,000 for sites over 0.1 hectare):

  • Professional advisors' fees for RIBA Plan of Work Stages 1 to 2
  • Feasibility studies to establish whether the project is viable and identify feasible options
  • Building surveys and site surveys
  • Appraisals and plans vital to developing a project or determining a new use
  • Business case preparation
  • Stage 2 Project Development (50% grant, up to £20,000 for sites under 0.1 hectare or £50,000 for sites over 0.1 hectare):
  • Professional advisors' fees for RIBA Plan of Work Stages 3 to 4
  • Detailed design costs and a detailed cost plan
  • Statutory consents: planning permission, building warrant, listed building and/or conservation area consent
  • Building surveys and site investigations

What it will not fund

  • Buying or renting land or property
  • Marketing and promotional costs
  • General maintenance not linked to redevelopment
  • Routine maintenance and minor repairs
  • VAT (unless it is non-recoverable)
  • Construction works, alterations, extensions and repair of internal fabric (Stages 1 and 2)
  • Fees for statutory consents (Stage 1)
  • Feasibility studies (Stage 2)
  • Works underway before approval

How to apply

  1. Submit an Expression of Interest outlining your project using the council's online form; the RPGF Project Team assesses it
  2. If the project meets the fund's criteria, you are invited to submit a full Stage 1 (or Stage 2) application by online form, emailing supporting documents to regeneration@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
  3. Stage 1 assessment includes a site visit; the team will also visit on request to discuss your project
  4. If successful, sign the provisional Grant Offer, Agreement, Mandate and MFA declaration
  5. On completion, submit the professional advisors' invoices and the completed work or report to claim the grant

if you plan to use the same professional advisors for Stages 1 and 2, ask them to quote for both stages when applying for Stage 1; otherwise three quotes are needed per stage.

Stage 3 Project Delivery (construction) is expected to launch in late 2026 with two submission deadlines a year.

Have ready

  • Completed RPGF application form
  • Ownership details (title deeds), available from Registers of Scotland
  • Written consent of the owner, if not the applicant
  • Details of professional advisors
  • Fee quotes for professional advisors and surveys (at least three per item)
  • Details of any other grants received, offered or applied for on the same property
  • Proof of the applicant's funding contribution, if applicable
  • Constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association, as appropriate
  • Recent photograph of the property or land
  • Basic location plan highlighting the property or land
  • Explanations (250 words each) of how the project contributes to local economic growth, enhances the town centre or local area, and aligns with national and local priorities

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