Deadline Date: December 10, 2025
Perth and Kinross Council has launched a grant fund to assist business and property owners to upgrade and repurpose vacant commercial properties to bring them back into use as commercial, community or residential premises to help implement sustainable economic growth.
The focus areas of this opportunity are local economy and business, local placemaking and townscape, and delivering wider community benefit. The Council has introduced this scheme as part of efforts to improve the appeal, performance and economic success of city and town centres by supporting projects that can positively transform vacant or underused properties. Applicants can apply for grant assistance of up to 50% of project costs to a maximum of £75,000, and priority will be given to projects demonstrating strong contributions to the local economy and business, local placemaking and townscape, and wider community benefit. A place-based review will form part of the assessment, considering the need, demand and impact of the proposed use in relation to the project location.
Projects that show clear deliverability through gaining necessary consents and undertaking procurement where appropriate will be prioritised, and applicants must be able to complete the project within 12 months of grant award. A grant of up to £75,000 or 50% of project costs is available for alterations and improvements, assessed based on need for intervention to address viability gaps. A minimum of 50% match funding is required, and while projects can be of any size, leases between five and twenty years have a maximum grant limit of £24,999.
Applicants must undertake all necessary repair and improvement works and submit quotes for the works with their application. Commercial applicants must submit a business plan and demonstrate arrangements for future maintenance. Funding must be fully claimed before the grant completion date specified in the offer, or Perth and Kinross Council may withdraw the award. Participation in publicity initiatives related to the grant scheme is also required.
Eligible costs include capital conversion costs, reasonable professional fees directly incurred for the project, and unrecoverable VAT, supported by QS reports, fee proposals, or construction tenders. Applications can be submitted by property owners or tenants with at least five years remaining on their lease, including business owners, constituted groups, charities and community or voluntary organisations. The funding is intended to overcome viability gaps due to increased costs, particularly with dilapidated and historic buildings, and will only support projects demonstrating a clear funding deficit. Projects expected to generate developer profit or be feasible without additional funding will not be considered.
For more information, visit Perth and Kinross Council.
