Covid Recovery Small Settlements Regeneration Programme: Village & Rural Enhancement

Overview

Village & Rural Enhancement:

Capital grants are available between £50,000 and £100,000 at a grant rate of 100% for community groups/associations to support the regeneration and development of villages in ways which support their important social and economic roles.

All projects must be within the 30mph boundary of a rural settlement.

• Please click here for the Expression of Interest form and guidance notes.

If you are interested in submitting an Expression of Interest the following conditions apply:

• Valid settlements must have a population of between 50 and 5,000;
• Provide an overview of the proposed project including indicative independent costs;
• Provide evidence that the project has the support of the wider village community by its inclusion in the Village Action Plan, with the Expression of Interest coming from one bona-fide Community Group
• If there is more than one Community Group/Association operating in a village then these Groups will need to come together to agree, prepare and submit the Expression of Interest as only one per village will be accepted);
• Demonstrate that the project is complementary to the current offering in the village and is contained within the Village Action Plan;
• Demonstrate that the project is situated within the 30mph boundaries of the village or rural settlement;
• Demonstrate that the project would be able to commence in September 2022 and complete in March 2023;
• Provide evidence that there are no issues with ownership of the land/ building where the proposed project will take place and that all statutory approvals are in place or can be provided by end of September 2022, this may include planning approvals, lease agreements, and agreements with any other statutory bodies. If statutory approvals are not in place by this date, the project will not be progressed;
• In a competitive process, priority may be given to those villages that have not received Rural Development funding in previous Village Rural Development Schemes and/or COVID-19 Recovery Revitalisation Programme; and
• It is anticipated that the rural funding will be limited to no more than one project from each of the rural District Electoral Areas (DEAs) and outside the boundaries of Omagh and Enniskillen. Please see Appendix 1 for map showing DEAs.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council wishes to invite Expressions of Interest from eligible villages and rural settlements who wish to be considered for funding opportunities for capital projects that would be able to commence in September 2022 and complete in March 2023.

Indicative actions that Council is looking to address and could be supported are:

• the vision of creating village centres which are sustainable, welcoming and accessible to live, work and relax. These include revitalisation, public realm, and comprehensive development schemes;
• infrastructural improvements such as enhanced public realm, better footpaths, street furniture and lighting, and public seating;
• Projects relating to active travel, promoting connectivity and access to services, and/or creating and enhancing green / blue spaces. Potential projects could include:
  • cycle tracks or lanes - including pop-up cycle lanes and creating space on pathways for cyclists;
  • pavement or footway widening to allow for physical distancing;
  • cycle parking and charging facilities;
  • connection pathways to access town centres the centre of settlements and key services – adapting existing routes and/or creating desirable new ingress and egress routes;
  • tree planting incidental to creating/improving walking or cycling paths; and
  • parklets, rain gardens, living roofs and living vertical gardens.
• dereliction and vacant site enhancement;
• environment improvements;
• conservations and upgrading of rural culture (natural and built);
• gateway projects;
• walkways, nature trails and play facilities (subject to compliance to the Council’s Play Park Strategy);
• sign posting local heritage features;
• improving physical access to amenities or attractions; and
• entrance features and signage.

Funding Options

The funding will be administered as support for up to 8 stand-alone village projects identified within their Village Plan, with project funding of £50,000 (minimum) to £100,000 (maximum) at a rate of 90% per project with the potential for 10% match funding contribution from the Council. There is no requirement for the group to make a contribution to this funding.

To be considered for participation in the programme Village’s must complete and submit an Expression of Interest.

Expressions of Interest will be assessed and scored against an agreed ‘Village Renewal Selection Framework’. See Guidance.