Large Capital Project Fund 2021-22

The Large Capital Project Fund 2021-22 will open for applications on 25 January 2021 for large capital projects commencing between 1^st April 2021-31st March 2022. The call will remain open until noon on 29 October 2021 or until the budget is committed, whichever comes first. Groups can apply for up to £20,000 at a maximum rate of 50%.

Groups thinking of applying to this grant programme should be aware that the following essential documentation must also be provided before a submitted application will be assessed:

a. Evidence of security of tenure which must be one of the following:

1. Proof of ownership of the property which should be one of the following:

   • a copy of the title deeds in the name of the applicant organisation

   • a letter from a solicitor on headed paper which sets out the Land Registry folio number of the property, date registered, ownership (which should be name of applicant organisation)

2. A lease of at least 10 years duration remaining with written permission from the landlord for the project to proceed
3. Where the proposed project is to take place on Council property, the only requirement is that written permission from Council for the project must be provided

b. Evidence of potential project costs (for all applications) as follows:

For capital works, one of the following:

1. copy of three quotations for the work being applied for (each quotation must compare like with like ie same specification) or
2. one detailed cost estimate if produced by a Quantity Surveyor

For land purchase, one of the following:

1. a valuation carried out by a valuer appointed by the Funding Body who are match-funding your project
2. if the above does not exist, Council will require a valuation to be carried out by the Council’s independent valuer – however, this will only happen if an offer of funding is to be made. In this case the value indicated by the Council’s independent valuer will be used when calculating any final grant award.

c. Evidence in writing that all required statutory approvals are in place

This means you must provide both of the following:

1. Evidence of planning permission granted or evidence in writing from the Planning Department of Council that planning permission is not required for the works being proposed in the application.
2. Evidence of Building Control approval granted or evidence in writing from the Building Control Department of Council that Building Control approval is not required for the works being proposed in the application.

Please note: it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all the works for which funding is being applied for have statutory approvals. For example, where an applicant provides evidence of planning permission and it later transpires at any stage following the closing of the call that some elements of the project are not covered by the approval provided, the application will be deemed unsuccessful.

d. Evidence that the funding shortfall is in place (ie the finance is secured to pay the balance of project costs). This may take the form of a grant from another funder, a loan, a donation etc. Please note the following:

1. groups must be able to demonstrate and evidence a cash commitment from their own funds at a minimum rate of 5% of total project costs up to a value of £5,000. Such cash commitment can include a loan to the applicant.
2. contribution in kind will only be considered in the form of the donation by a third party of land or buildings. The donation must be freehold or, if leasehold, must be of a minimum duration of 99 years. In this case the value will have to be independently evaluated as described above for land purchase.

Where an applicant is seeking funding from a funder other than Council who also insist on the balance of funding being in place before they will consider an application, the following process will be followed:

• The group must provide evidence that an application has already been submitted to that funder (where allowed).
• Council will confirm with that funder that they will not consider an application until all other funding is in place. Council will also confirm the likely timescale of assessment of any application.
• If the above are confirmed, and a decision from the other funder will be made by 30 November 2021, and all other pre-existing criteria are in place, Council will proceed to assess the application. If successful, any award will be subject to confirmation that the balance of funding is secured (from that funder only) by 30 November 2021.

e. A copy of the applicant’s most recent annual accounts

The accounts must be signed as audited or independently verified. They cannot just be signed off by a member of the Committee.

Small Scale Capital Project Fund 2021-22

The Small Scale Capital Project Fund 2021-22 will open for applications on 1 February 2021 and close at 12 noon on 19 February 2021. Groups can apply for up to £2,500 at a maximum rate of 50% for small capital projects, technical assistance for a capital project, or the purchase of equipment. Projects must be fully delivered before 31st March 2022 (note: projects should not commence before a Letter of Offer from Council is issued).

Further Information

All applications are to be submitted online using the options below once open for applications. The Applicant Guidance Manuals will be available below once the call opens. Groups should find all the details they require in these manuals and encouraged to read these before applying.

Any queries for either Capital or Revenue grants should initially be directed to fap@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk or by phoning 07515 607480.