Business support and guidance

About the scheme

We are offering business owners the opportunity to take part in a predominantly council funded heritage shopfront improvement scheme in the Harrow Road Area.

The scheme aims to:

• support businesses with access to free services to improve their shopfronts
• attract more customers and improve the customer experience
• create a more welcoming and vibrant high street environment

The scheme is past of the wider North Paddington High Street Investment Programme by the council to improve the experience of the high streets, stimulate economic growth and attract visitors to the area.

Read more about the scheme in our flyer:

What works are we offering?

Included works:

• new traditional signage, hand painted
• new heritage shopfront
• façade repairs, for example brickwork, rendering and repointing
• repair and restoration of traditional shopfront features
• re-painting of existing heritage timber shopfronts
• heritage awnings
• accessibility improvements

What works are we not offering?

Works which do not comply with our planning design guidance document for shopfronts, blinds and signs:

Non-eligible works include:

• external and/or solid shutters.
• security devices, for example CCTV, or security alarms.
• projecting hanging signs.
• lightbox signs or internally illuminated box fascias or projecting fascia signs
• any works using non-traditional, low quality or artificial. materials like uPVC, plastic or aluminium
• internal works and visual merchandising

Additional Information

For businesses to participate and benefit from the shopfront improvements, we will be seeking the permission of both the business leaseholders and freeholders.

The majority of the costs of the works and installation will be covered by Westminster City Council. We will be expecting applicants to contribute up to 10% of the total cost.

For businesses within priority area the council will:

1. pay for approximately 90% of the improvement works
2. provide free architectural and design advice for the shopfront transformation
3. submit the planning application on the leaseholder or freeholder’s behalf
4. pay any related admin fees or surveys
5. appoint and manage the building contractor and works
6. work with businesses to minimise disruption to trade
7. publicise the project and promote the works

Areas in scope

Priority areas will focus on:

• Harrow Road and Great Western Road Junction.
• Subject to availability, will be open to other high streets within the wider North Paddington area.

Please refer to the guidance flyer at the top of this page to see if you're in the eligible area.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for funding, you must:

• be trading in the designated area
• liaise and enter a contractual legal agreement to follow set processes and timescales
• have fewer than 50 employees
• have a turnover of less than €50 (£43.5m) million or a balance sheet total of less than €43 (£37.4m) million
• not be in financial difficulty
• not have been awarded funding in the council shopfront improvement schemes in 2009 or the UKSPF funded 2024/25 scheme
• be able to contribute up to 10% of the costs
• maintain the property to a satisfactory standard for a minimum of 5 years

Applications are now closed. We are currently reviewing submissions and will share an update with the shortlisted candidates once the process is complete.