Galway County Council is pleased to announce a Streetscape Enhancement Measure for Gort Town Centre.  This activity will be funded by the Department of Rural & Community Development (DRCD) under the Town & Village Renewal Scheme. The project is an action of the Gort Town Centre First Plan and promoted by the Gort Town Team.  

 

The focus of this Measure is to support the upgrade and enhancement of shopfronts and street facades of defined areas within selected rural town/village centres. The defined area or qualifying location for this Measure is presented in the attached map of Gort Town Centre. The areas included in this Scheme are properties facing Market Square, Crowe Street, Bridge Street, George’s Street (section), Barrack Street and Church Street.  (INSERT MAP LINK)  

 

Shopfronts are a very important element of the streetscape. Shopfronts should therefore, be of a high standard of design and reflect the architecture of the original building and of the surrounding area.  

 

It is the policy of the Council to preserve and retain traditional shopfronts that contribute to the character of our Towns and Villages. The need to change old shopfronts whether protected or not will be closely questioned.  Preference should be given to refurbishment rather than replacement. Regular inspection and maintenance is essential to avoid serious defects and decay. Galway County Council seeks to encourage retail innovation, creativity, vitality and recognises the role shopfronts, signs and advertising can have on the character of a street.  

 

 

Eligible applicants are tenants or owners of commercial, residential, or unoccupied buildings in the qualifying location in Gort Town Centre. The Qualifying Locations included are delineated on the map below. 

Any applications received for premises outside of the defined qualifying location and priority areas will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 

Residents/occupiers or lease holders of Local Authority owned buildings within the defined location of the Measure are also eligible to apply.  

Applications made by local community and voluntary groups in consultation with owners/tenants or on behalf of a property this is unoccupied within the defined locations can be considered.  

Note: Tenants must submit written consent from the owner premises for the specified works at the time of application.  

 Applications may not be considered where there are local taxes or charges due to the Council. However, consideration will be given in such instances where there is an agreed payment plan in place that is being adhered to.  

 

 

Works to individual properties (commercial/residential/derelict) are eligible. (Note: It is preferable to develop works or undertake painting scheme on as many adjacent properties as possible, but there must be a minimum of 3 as set out by the Department for this measure to qualify for the maximum rate of funding at 80%; a reduced rate of 70% will apply to a single premise application.  

Application for Works to standalone buildings are permitted for inclusion in the Measure in the case of derelict buildings or vacant properties where a clear need to address the visual impact of this building on the existing streetscape can be made.  

Eligible type of works include works such as: painting, repair of shopfronts, signage, signage replacement, shopfront improvement, materials, lighting and cleaning (See table below).  Please Note: Given the timelines as set out by the Department, Galway County Council’s Priority under this Measure will be for Painting Schemes.  

Owners and occupiers of buildings are encouraged to undertake full façade applications, i.e. painting/improvement of buildings to include entire shopfront at ground floor/overhead façade, residences and unoccupied buildings. Grant funds cannot be used for rear elevation painting. There is only one application per property.  

For Painting works, it would be recommended that all properties are power washed, gutters to be cleaned out, apply non-toxic fungicidal spray, stabilising solution where required, apply two coats of exterior paint. All timber painting to be properly prepared with undercoat and gloss coat.  

Galway County Council if feasible intends to engage the services of Colour Consultant (s) to advise on recommended Colour Schemes which may be made available to successful group applications, or Colour Consultant may be engaged by local Town Team, as part of an agreed approach with Galway County Council. 

In selecting works to be completed, local authorities are required to show that the selected works constitute a joined-up proposal for the chosen town.  

It should be noted however, in order to maximise the impact of the scheme and given the tight timeframes that are involved, it will only be possible to support works such as painting, decluttering and other works that will not require planning permission and/or where necessary permissions are in place.   

Where works are undertaken without the prior written approval of GCC, a grant will not be awarded to the applicant, the grant must be approved in advance of works.  

 

Property Owners and Tenants in the Town Centre (as defined) may apply for Grants of up to 80% to the maximum limits available for the following eligible works:   

Eligible Works  

Maximum Grants Amount Available (Rate at 70/80%) 

 

1.Doorways/Fanlights, cleaning of stonework, painting of doors, reinstatement of timber fanlights 

   

2. Roof/Chimney/Guttering- removal of vegetation, cleaning and minor repairs (minimum 3 adjoined properties)​ 

  

3. Painting of building/shop front in carefully selected colours which will complement the host building and streetscape. 

   

4. Decluttering and repair of shopfronts. (Decluttering can include such works as removing unnecessary signs, flagpoles, wiring etc.) 

   

5. Appropriate illumination and lighting of architectural features of buildings. 

   

6. Replacement of signage with traditional wooden fascia with wooden/hand painted lettering OR contemporary design  

  

7.Repair of traditional shopfronts- reinstallation of Fascia board, pilasters and other timber features. 

  

Notes   

The maximum amount of Grant Aid available for activities listed 1 & 2 above is is at 70%/80% of verifiable costs, to a maximum of €1,000 euro. This is for one individual activity or a combination of any of these type activities.  

The maximum amount of Grant Aid available for activities listed above 3 and 4 is at 70%/80% of verifiable costs, to a maximum of €3,500 euro. This is for one individual activity or a combination of any of these type activities.  

The maximum amount of Grant Aid available for activities 5,6 is €4,000. This is for one individual activity or a combination of any of these type activities.  

The maximum amount of Grant Aid available for activity 7 is €7,000 

The maximum amount of Grant Aid that can be made available for a combination of activities (1 to 7 above) for one property is €8,000.  

 

The maximum value of works to any individual premises is €8,000. Subject to the applicant not exceeding the limits for each type of eligible works, grant funding may be provided at the following rates: 

Where the applicant is seeking funding towards materials + labour: 

80% for a minimum of 3 or more adjacent premises (there is a minimum match funding requirement of 20% for each property approved. 

70% for a single premises (there is a minimum match funding requirement of 30% for each property approved. 

Where the applicant is seeking funding towards materials only for Painting Works 

100% of costs for materials only (applicant undertakes painting works by direct labour). 

 

 

The application process is detailed and designed to ensure all necessary information is provided to evaluate each proposal accurately and fairly.  Please ensure you complete the Application Form and all documentation in support of your application is submitted with the application.  

 

 

Application Form   

.Please complete the application Form detailing the projected expenditure under each relevant area of eligible work.  or if the applicant is a Tenant, the owner’s written consent to the works must be submitted with the application.  

 

You can apply online at www.galway.ie or complete a Form available from tandv@galwaycoco.ie or phone 091 509396 and we can send it to you.  

 

Photographs showing the building’s present condition 

 

Please attach good quality photos of the full front-facing façade of the property which clearly shows all of the areas of the building where works will be carried out. 

 

Quotations 

All quotations which include costs for labour should be sought from competent painting contractors and should detail all of the works to be carried out including materials, all colours, finishes, etc.    Please include the relevant number of quotations outlined for various types of works; 

If application is for materials only (applies to Painting only) up to a maximum of value of €5000 for painting: 1 quotation  

If application is for materials + labour up to a value of €5,000: 2 quotations  

If application is for materials + labour over €5,000: 3 quotations