Shop Front Grants

Hadleigh Shopfront Grants 

Businesses in Hadleigh can now apply for a grant of up to £3,000 to improve their shop fronts. A total of £24,000 will be distributed to town centre businesses in 2025. This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

The grant is available to anyone who owns or rents commercial premises (including registered charities) in Hadleigh Town Centre, including London Road, Rectory Road, Oak Road and Castle Lane. Applications can be accepted from the property freeholder, or the leaseholder, providing they can show written permission from the landlord to make the changes. 
Grants can cover, but are not limited to:

• painting of existing shop fronts and upper floors
• replacement shop front, windows and doors
• replacement gutter and downpipes
• replacement signage
• accessibility improvements, such as nosing on steps, widening of doorways, ramps for doorways or removal of steps, handrails, portable ramps, power assisted doors, disabled access signs, doorbells and training staff to assist disabled customers

Please be aware that some changes are likely to require planning permission. Visit the Planning Portal for guidance on what changes require permission.

Grants will be assessed based on their potential to make a difference to the town centre and improve footfall, in line with the Hadleigh Town Centre Vision. Applicants are strongly advised to refer to the Design Guide for Hadleigh Town Centre, enclosed, which will be taken into consideration when applications are assessed. 

Design guide [pdf] 4MB

To apply, fill out the attached application form here, and return ,along with all supplementary information, to business@castlepoint.gov.uk, or return via post to “Regeneration team, Ref: Hadleigh Shopfront Grant, Castle Point Council Offices, Kiln Road, Benfleet, SS7 1TF”

Hadleigh Shop Front Improvement Grant Application Form[docx] 84KB

UKSPF Shop Front Improvement Grant Scheme - Guidance and Design Guide [pdf] 127KB

The closing date of this scheme is 17th October 2025.

Shop display training 

As part of the Shop Front Improvement programme for Hadleigh, there will also be a programme of Visual Merchandising training and 1-1 support for 10 businesses with expert advice on how to make their shopfront look as attractive as possible to attract new customers. The workshop titles ‘Window to the world’. is scheduled to take place Tuesday 30th September, at 4:30pm at Hadleigh Old Fire Station, and will cover:

• The importance of your shop window
• Visual merchandising essentials
• Lighting and visual impact
• Using storytelling and colour
• Experiential and interactive windows

Businesses do not need to apply for the grant to attend this training. To book to attend the workshop click here.