community grants

Scotland

England, Wales  & N Ireland

phase 2 - low carbon building programme

Available to public sector buildings (including schools, hospitals, housing associations and local authorities) and charitable bodies.  Not open to private sector organisations.  Applicants can apply for between 30-50% of the cost of installing depending on the technology (Solar 30%, wind turbines 30%, Ground Source Heat Pumps 35%). Organisations can receive up to £1 million in grant funds over the lifetime of the programme.  This can include multiple technologies over multiple sites.  HOWEVER only certain installers are listed and due to a national shortage of installers, they are struggling to carry out installations - we have heard from a number of clients that by the time many jobs are sub-contracted, the final cost to the end user can be higher than the pre-grant amount.  IHS think this is bizarre and wonder why contracts for public sector micro-renewable work in England and Wales was given to a confined number of bodies.

public sector organisations - stream 2 low carbon building programme

One grant is available per installation location (including groups of buildings, housing developments).  Large commercial organisations including developers can apply for up to 40% of the total installation costs (excluding VAT).  Large public sector organisations can also apply for up up to 40% but can also seek to match the remainder of the project costs from other sources of public funds or government aid.  SMEs can apply for up to 50% of installation costs (excluding VAT).

Stream 2A – apply for grant up to £100,00 with competitive bidding rounds held every quarter. You need to complete a pre-application form (refer to website). An application form is then sent to you. An independent selection panel assesses the applications; grants are offered to successful applications.

Stream 2B - if seeking more than £100,000, funds are allocated over three funding rounds; it's a more involved application process but more money is made available.  There are six-monthly deadlines for applications. Again you pre-register.  The first stage involves a building assessment.  Once the building assessment has been completed you can then apply for grant funding.  Applications are through a competitive bidding process.