Many businesses and organisations are unaware of the possibilities and the issues that will influence the outcome of any grant application. Some of the key points to note are.

• Grants are discretionary and are never guaranteed until they are finally agreed.
• Location is likely to be a key consideration, with the regeneration of areas of high unemployment and reclamation of brown-field sites a priority.
• Grants may be conditional upon the recipient meeting the criteria for a set time to avoid claw-back or loss of funding.
• Grants are often related to project viability and if a project is viable without a grant it is unlikely to be given.
• Funds are likely to be limited and given on a first come, first served basis for a fixed time period.
• A comprehensive application including a business plan and supporting documentation from the architect, client and others will probably have to be compiled and submitted.
• Grants are usually mutually exclusive, meaning that only one grant will be available on any project.

“Funding Regeneration - A guide to Accessing Public Funds” has been published by our Grants Team in conjunction with the British Property Federation (BPF). This first edition was launched at the THINK conference for Sustainability, Regeneration and Innovation in London on 1st May 2007.  A copy of this guide can be downloaded from the brochure link to the right.