Portswood Place is one of five in the borough
The Town Centre Improvement Scheme (TCIS) operates mainly in the
borough's town centres and provides a mix of grants and interest-free
loans to small businesses.
The level of financial support ranges from £1,000 to £15,000 and can
be put towards the cost of improvements to premises, shop fronts and exteriors.
The five local parades being added to the scheme also include those at
Tildesley Road, Putney;
171-227 Garratt Lane,
Earlsfield;
169-201
Merton Road,
Southfields and
245-265 and 258-274 Mitcham Lane.
Since the TCIS was launched in 1994 it has provided support for more
than 550 businesses, ensured higher occupancy rates and made shopping
more attractive for local people.
In the last year a further 33 businesses have benefited with the
council's support helping to create 93 new jobs. The TCIS contribution
of £340,000 has led to external investment of £920,000. The number of
grants and loans is more than double that in the previous year and
follows a major streamlining of the scheme.
Executive member for regeneration and community safety James Cousins said:
"Although the scheme is mainly aimed at town centres it does include a
number of important local parades where the smaller trader can benefit. In each of the five new areas there is a potential for regenerating
the parade, improving its attractiveness to shoppers and encouraging
new retail uses.
"The council is targeting resources at key areas like Roehampton where
new investment is desperately needed. By offering the right kind of
support to businesses we can help to improve local shopping for the
benefit of the whole community."
Firms interested in finding out more details of the scheme can call
John Ruske at the council's economic development office on 020 8871 7031
or email to jruske@wandsworth.gov.uk The proposal to extend the TCIS will be considered by the regeneration and community safety overview and scrutiny committee on April 19.
April 20, 2007
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