The town and village regeneration scheme is set to make a return.

For the first time in years, the government allocated money to the scheme in its 2019-20 Budget.

However there will be a £10,000 cap on support, unlike the previous incarnation of the scheme.

Responsibility for making awards under the new version of the scheme will fall under the remit of the Department for Enterprise.

A new version of the scheme will replace the current incarnation, drawn up in 2013. The current scheme has no maximum amount for grants, but Treasury consent is required for awards of more than £100,000.

A government spokesman said: ’The purpose of the 2013 scheme is to provide funding to a variety of public and private bodies to improve the appearance and amenity of external areas in specified regeneration zones.

Budget

’No payments, though, have been made under the 2013 scheme for some time, as no money had been allocated to its budget.’

This year, Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan allocated £250,000 per year until 2022-23.

Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly will this week ask Tynwald to approve the new scheme, to replace the 2013 version.

Previously local regeneration committees and the Chief Minister’s regeneration steering group were involved in the decision-making process for awarding funds. These groups no longer sit, so instead it will be for the Department for Enterprise to decide.

An explanatory memorandum for Tynwald members says the areas in which funding can apply will be widened to include ’areas within area of local plans delineated for mixed, retail, shopping, tourism, office or commercial use’.

However, the wording of the new scheme itself says the DfE must be satisfied the works are to take place in a regeneration area.

Funding will still only be available for exterior work and on non-residential properties. The maximum amount of funding available for a project under the 2019 scheme will be 50% of the cost of works, capped at £10,000.