Windfalls for old buildings

Sep 7 2007 By Gurdip Thandi, Birmingham Mail

COUNCIL bosses are hoping to bring new jobs to countryside and market towns through a scheme to revamp derelict buildings.

Staffordshire, Solihull and Warwickshire have signed up to an initiative with Advantage West Midlands, offering grants to spruce up void properties.

A pot of £1.3 million is available until March 2010 to support projects that convert or refurbish buildings into office, manufacturing, retail, craft or tourism and leisure uses.

It covers buildings in rural areas and market towns.

Virtually any building could be eligible for support providing it is used for business purposes once the works are complete.

Up to £62,500 or 25 per cent of project costs is available to each individual project providing it either creates or safeguards jobs.

The funding can be used to pay for building works, installation of services, including improvements to ICT infrastructure and energy efficiency, professional fees, services or landscaping.

The scheme is open to private individuals, part-nerships, co-operatives and limited companies and covers most of Stafford-shire, Warwickshire and Solihull, with the exception of major urbanised areas.