Luton Town Centre Shopfront Grant Scheme 2026–27
Improve your shopfront with match funding of up to £2,000. Luton BID and The Culture Trust Luton are offering eligible town-centre businesses and property owners support to improve occupied shopfronts and long-term vacant commercial properties.
In partnership with The Culture Trust Luton
APPLY ONLINE READ FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS
Improving Luton Town Centre
Shopfronts have a major impact on the appearance of a town centre. High-quality, attractive shopfronts help make Luton more welcoming, strengthen the town's identity and encourage more people to explore and visit local businesses.
The Luton Town Centre Shopfront Grant Scheme supports improvements to eligible commercial properties within the Luton BID area, including occupied shopfronts and commercial properties that have been continuously vacant for at least 12 months.
The scheme also encourages collaboration between town-centre businesses and Luton's creative community, helping businesses explore distinctive and imaginative improvements that celebrate local talent.
How the funding works
Grants can meet up to 50% of the final eligible project cost, up to a maximum grant of £2,000.
This means a £2,000 grant requires at least £4,000 of eligible project costs, while a £1,000 grant requires at least £2,000 of eligible project costs. If the final eligible cost is lower than the approved cost, the grant will be reduced proportionately.
Hat District
£12,000 of the overall fund is allocated specifically to eligible businesses and properties within the Hat District.
Wider Luton BID Area
£10,000 is available to eligible businesses and properties across the wider Luton BID area.
Applicants to either allocation must be fully paid-up Luton BID levy payers or current Luton BID voluntary members at both the application date and grant payment date. Applicants are responsible for their contribution and any cost increases. Recoverable VAT is not eligible.
What can the grant support?
Shopfront improvements
Repair, restoration and repainting of shopfronts and approved commercial elements visible from the street.
Signage
Appropriate new or improved business signage, subject to any necessary permissions.
Accessibility
Pedestrian access improvements compliant with the Equality Act 2010 and applicable Building Regulations.
Creative treatments
Window artwork, vinyls, murals and other approved creative and design-led improvements.
Vacant properties
Appropriate improvements to commercial properties that have been continuously vacant for at least 12 months.
Professional design
Professional design work connected to approved improvements, including opportunities to work with local creatives.
Who can apply?
Applications can be made by eligible tenants or property owners. Applicants must meet the scheme requirements, including:
- Be a fully paid-up Luton BID levy payer or current voluntary member.
- Occupy or own an eligible commercial property within the Luton BID area.
- Tenants must have at least two years remaining on their lease.
- Tenants must have written permission from the property owner.
- Be able to fund at least 50% of the eligible project cost.
- Obtain any required planning or statutory permissions.
- Agree not to start work before receiving a final written grant offer.
- Meet the scheme's evidence and application requirements.
Eligible premises can include shops, hairdressers, beauty salons, funeral directors, laundrettes, dry cleaners, post offices, banks, building societies, estate agencies, professional services, restaurants, pubs, cafés and takeaways.
Working with local creatives
Thinking about incorporating artwork, creative design or locally inspired features into your shopfront?
You can submit an early expression of interest before completing your full grant application. You don't need to have identified an artist or completed a final design at this stage.
Luton BID and The Culture Trust Luton will help promote suitable opportunities through Luton's creative network and, where possible, connect businesses with artists or designers whose skills and experience match the proposed project.
An expression of interest does not guarantee grant funding or the availability of a suitable creative professional. All proposed work and costs must still go through the full grant assessment process.
Have an idea?
Your early expression of interest should briefly outline your property, the improvement you're considering and any initial ideas or support you may need.
EMAIL YOUR EXPRESSION OF INTERESTHow to apply
Check your eligibility
Read the full Terms & Conditions and make sure your business, property and proposed improvements meet the scheme requirements.
Check permissions
Contact Luton Council to establish whether you need planning permission, advertisement consent, listed building consent, Building Regulations approval or any other statutory permission.
Plan your improvements
Prepare your proposed schedule of works, photographs, initial designs or sketches and other supporting evidence.
Fill in the online application
Complete the Shopfront Grant Scheme online application form. Quotations may be submitted with your initial application if they are available.
Provide supporting information
At least two independent, itemised quotations must be provided and approved before a final grant offer can be issued, unless the assessment panel agrees in writing that this is impractical.
Important information
What won't the scheme fund?
- Work already completed, started, ordered or contractually committed before the final grant offer.
- Internal repairs or alterations.
- Improvements to residential property, including accommodation above commercial premises.
- Structural repairs, including re-roofing.
- External security features.
- CCTV systems.
- Recoverable VAT.
- Work carried out without required permission or consent.
- Items outside the approved schedule of works.
What do I need for my application?
- A completed online application.
- A detailed schedule or description of the proposed works.
- At least two independent itemised quotations before the final grant offer.
- Plans, drawings, designs or sketches where relevant.
- Clear, current colour photographs of the shopfront.
- Evidence of ownership or the remaining lease term.
- Written property-owner permission if you are a tenant.
- Evidence of 12 months' continuous vacancy where applicable.
- Required statutory permissions or applications.
- Any other information reasonably requested as part of the assessment.
What if the property has been vacant?
Commercial properties that have been continuously vacant for at least 12 months can apply where the proposed works will improve their appearance or prospects of occupation.
For this scheme, vacant means the premises have not been occupied by a trading business or used for active commercial operations during the relevant period. Temporary access for inspections, maintenance, viewings or essential security does not count as occupation.
At least two forms of evidence are required, with at least one being independently verifiable. Evidence can include business rates records, utility statements, commercial letting particulars, lease termination documents, vacant-property insurance documents or written confirmation from Luton Council or an appointed letting agent.
What permissions might I need?
You must consult Luton Council to establish whether planning permission, advertisement consent, listed building consent, Building Regulations approval or another statutory approval is required.
Where consent is required, it must be obtained before a final grant offer can be issued.
Any change to an approved design, specification, contractor, materials, costs or timescale must receive prior written approval from Luton BID and The Culture Trust Luton.
What about listed or historic buildings?
Replacing something with the same materials and design will usually be considered a repair, while changing materials or design will usually be considered an alteration.
Different rules may apply to listed buildings. Even like-for-like replacement can require consent where original or historically important materials are being removed. Applicants should check with Luton Council before starting any work.
What happens after you apply?
Eligibility check
Luton BID will check that the application is complete and meets the scheme's eligibility requirements.
Assessment
Applications are considered by a panel of representatives from Luton BID, The Culture Trust Luton and Luton Council. The panel meets monthly.
Decision
A decision will normally be made within six weeks of receiving a complete application. Successful applicants will initially receive a provisional grant offer.
Final approval
Outstanding permissions, drawings, the schedule of works and quotations must be approved before the final written grant offer is issued. Only then can work begin.
Complete the work
Works must commence within two months of the final grant offer and be completed by the date stated in the offer letter, which will be no later than 30 April 2027.
Claim your grant
Grants are paid in arrears. Approved invoices must be paid in full and supported by invoices and traceable proof of cleared payment. Cash payments and informal receipts are not accepted.
Approved claims will normally be paid within 30 days of receipt of all satisfactory evidence and completion of the final inspection.
Ready to improve your shopfront?
Applications are open until 12 noon on 31 December 2026, subject to funding remaining available. Early applications are encouraged.
APPLY ONLINE NOWNeed help before applying?
If you're unsure whether your business or proposed improvements are eligible, contact the Luton BID team.
Email: info@lutonbid.org | Telephone: 01582 510657