Argyll and Bute Council’s Empty Business Property Grant Scheme has already supported 12 owners and tenants of empty business properties since it was launched just three months ago.
The council introduced the new scheme to assist owners and tenants of empty business properties to return their properties to productive use. The grant scheme has an allocation of £786,000 for the 2025/26 financial year, and applies to business properties that have been empty for at least six months. It is open to owners and lessees of properties registered on the valuation roll.
The scheme is in addition to the extended Empty Property Relief Scheme whereby empty business property owners could be eligible for a discretionary 100% EPR extension of up to 12 months if they are actively working to bring their property back into use.
The council appointed a dedicated Business Property Officer to facilitate both schemes. To date, twelve grant offers have been made and the officer is currently engaging with a further eighteen applicants in addition to a number of enquiries.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until funding is allocated in full. This means that whilst the fund is open there is no deadline for applications, but successful projects must be completed and claimed before 31 March 2026.
Council Leader, Councillor Jim Lynch, said: “It’s great to see the positive impact that the Empty Business Property Grant Scheme is making in such a short space of time. Just three months since its launch, twelve grants have been made to help owners and tenants to bring empty business properties back into productive use. This is a great step towards revitalising our local communities and our economy.
“If you own or lease a business property that’s been empty for six months or more, I’d encourage you to find out more and apply while funding is still available. The addition of the Empty Property Relief Scheme and the dedicated Empty Business Property Officer means that tailored support is available for those actively working to return their properties to use.”
Read more information about the Empty Business Property Grant Scheme.
