Town Centre Vitality Fund

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council has announced it is making £100,000 available to boost the vitality of its towns and villages.

The Council hopes the new “Town Centre Vitality Fund” will support activities and events aimed at increasing footfall and visitor experience in the borough’s high streets and local shopping centres.

Council Leader, Cllr Richard Biggs, said:

“Supporting our towns and villages is a key priority for the Council. This funding is designed to help business and community groups develop projects that will attract more residents and visitors and ensure that our towns and local centres continue to thrive. We recognise that our local high streets have a very important role to play for both our local economy and our communities.”

The Fund is open to local town centre groups, community organisations, local councillors and private sector organisations that can demonstrate they have consulted with and have the support of the local community. It will be managed on a first come, first served basis and will close in March 2025 or when the funds have been fully awarded, whichever is sooner.

Application criteria
Proposals will only be considered if:

They meet the key criteria of the Fund – i.e. to increase footfall and dwell time with the aim of attracting more visitors.
The purpose of the grant is to bring vitality to a town or neighbourhood centre, therefore proposals must demonstrate how they will deliver this wider and collective benefit.
The applicant can provide a contractor to deliver the activity if required. The applicant must demonstrate that they have used due diligence in sourcing the contractor and it is the responsibility of the applicant and the contractor to obtain any relevant permissions and licenses or perform risk assessments etc., that may be required to deliver the activity. Reigate & Banstead Borough Council cannot carry out any works as part of a submitted proposal.
The activity must be a new initiative and not an activity that would be happening regardless of the funding being awarded
Funds cannot be used for any public realm improvements that create a capital asset, i.e. must be removed within two years, or an ongoing liability, e.g. the purchase of Christmas lights.
The proposal must also highlight how success will be measured and evaluated upon completion of the project.
If you are not a recognised Town or Local Centre representative organisation, you will be required to provide a letter of support from your relevant local organisation to demonstrate consultation with other interested parties and the wider community.
If your proposal requires permissions and licenses, and it is successful, funds will only be released once Reigate & Banstead Borough Council sees evidence of those permissions.

Application process
The Fund will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis and will close in March 2025, or when funds have been fully awarded, whichever is sooner.

The proposal can follow any format, however, a completed copy of the Town Centre Vitality Fund Checklist must also be submitted which confirms that all necessary requirements and criteria have been met.

Applications are welcome for projects based in the borough’s Town Centres and Local Centres, the definitions of which are outlined in the linked documents below*.

We will accept applications from:

Recognised Town or Local Centre representative groups and community organisations that represent a consensus of local views in that community and have their own bank accounts.
A private organisation with its own bank account if they can demonstrate that they have consulted widely with the local community and have the support of a recognised Town or Local Centre group that represents a consensus of local views in that community.
Local Councillors who must be able to demonstrate that they have consulted with and have the support of a recognised Town or Local Centre organisation that represents a consensus of local views in that community.
Applications will initially be assessed by the Reigate & Banstead Economic Prosperity Team. The final decision lies with the Economic Prosperity Portfolio Holder who will provide the final approval and sign-off.

The Fund is a finite pot and, once a quarter, the remaining balance of funds will be published. Once all the funds have been allocated, the Fund will be closed and notification will be published.