Carmarthenshire County Council has introduced a Rural Conversion Grant (RCG), which will provide assistance to micro businesses for the conversion of redundant rural buildings into business use where either new jobs are created or existing jobs are safeguarded.

The RCG is funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the Welsh Assembly Government’s Rural Development Plan and supported by Carmarthenshire County Council.

Assessment Criteria & Priorities

Applicants should note that the County Council will be assessing the project against various criteria as follows:-

• Number of new permanent jobs created.
• Number of jobs safeguarded.
• Number of buildings improved.
• Value for money – based on the percentage of grant requested in relation to the overall eligible project cost.

Priority will be given to applications that will provide tangible benefits to the local economy in terms of quantity and quality of direct jobs created and the grant will be conditional of this.

Eligibility

Applications can be submitted by individuals, partnerships, small limited companies, co-operatives, charitable trusts and voluntary organisations

The building to be developed must be situated in the RDP Area (insert link here to map / list of eligible wards overleaf)

The grant is directed to micro businesses. Micro businesses are defined as businesses which employ less than 10 full time equivalent staff and have a turnover and balance sheet of less than 2 million euros.

Grants for works to property will only be available to owners of the freehold interest in the property or to lessees holding a lease that has a minimum of fifteen years remaining at the anticipated grant payment date and who have secured their landlord’s written consent to the proposed works

The grant is not available for the conversion or refurbishment of redundant buildings for residential, tourism, agricultural or horticultural purposes.

Ineligible works include:- pure refurbishment where the use of a building will not be changed; routine repair and maintenance works; works relating to health and safety requirements; statutory works; purchase costs; substantial demolition; soft landscaping; mobile equipment – please clarify with the County Council; works which have already commenced.

The Grant

Applicants will be required to demonstrate the need for assistance.  Where such a case has been accepted, applicants should apply for the minimum contribution necessary to bring the project to fruition.  The grant will be either based on £20,000 per job created / safeguarded or 50% of the eligible project costs, which ever is the lesser figure.  This grant cannot be match funded by other County Council funding.

How to Apply?

For further details and a Part 1 Application Form please contact:

Mike Bull
Physical Regeneration Project Officer
Carmarthenshire County Council
Rural Business Development Centre
Nant Y Ci
Carmarthen
Carmarthenshire, SA33 5DR

Tel: 01267 242338 email: MABull@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Eligible Wards

RDP Area.pdf (3.98 MB)

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Abergwili
Carmarthen Town North
Carmarthen Town South
Carmarthen Town West
Cenarth
Cilycwm
Cynwyl Elfed
Cynwyl Gaeo
Laugharne Township
Llanboidy
Llanddarog
Llandeilo
Llandovery
Llanegwad
Llanfihangel Aberbythych
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llangadog
Llangeler
Llangunnor
Llangyndeyrn
Llansteffan
Llanybydder
Manordeilo and Salem
St. Clears
St. Ishmael
Trelech
Whitland