ACRE Funding for Rural Community Buildings
The Rural Community Buildings Loan Fund aims to fill temporary gaps in funding for specific projects or urgent work on community buildings.
The Fund is managed by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and enables building, renovation and refurbishment work that would otherwise not take place, to be carried out.
Loans will be made available on the basis that:
- The property in question is freehold or leasehold with a minimum of 21 years left on the agreement;
- Local funds can contribute at least 10% of the overall project costs; and
- The loan repayment, together with interest, can be repaid within either 5 or 8 years.
There are no penalties for early repayment of grant; additional payments are welcomed by ACRE.
Eligible costs include:
- Provision of a new building either to replace an existing one or provide one where none exists.
- Extending, renovating and converting an existing building.
- Upgrading a building to meet fire standards, building regulations, security needs and similar legislative requirements.
- Improving accessibility and making other similar changes that will enable new uses and services.
- To support measures that increase energy efficiency.
Applications are submitted on rolling basis, no deadline is set. Although the maximum value of funding is £20,000, it can be flexible.
Applications are made by submitting an application form, which is available on request.
Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the Community Council of Devon (www.devonrcc.org.uk), who will make an initial assessment of the project based on their local knowledge. They will then submit the form to ACRE for processing and for a decision to be made.
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
Village Hall Information Officer
Action with Communities in Rural England
Somerford Court
Somerford Road
Cirencester
Gloucestershire
GL7 1TW
Tel: 01285 653477
Email:acre@acre.org.uk
last updated on 14th June 2011