City Centre Façade Improvement Grant Guidelines 2026
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Thursday 26 th March 2026.
Cork City Council is committed to supporting local businesses. The new City Centre Façade Improvement Grant aims to revitalise our city’s core retail area and strengthen the visual appeal and local economy of Cork by providing financial support to businesses to enhance their building frontage. The focus for 2026 will be St. Patrick Street (buildings between St Augustine’s and Lavitt’s Quay/Merchant’s Quay will be eligible) and the Council has established a fund of €200,000 to facilitate this programme.
The programme will be administered by the City Centre Development & Operations Directorate and will consist of two elements:
1) St Patrick’s Street Painting Grant Scheme will target the enhancement of building façades by grant aiding painting, cleaning, power washing & minor works to the external of buildings.
Level of support: €5,000 or 25% of cost (ex. VAT), whichever is the lesser.
2) St Patrick’s Street Shopfront Grant Scheme will promote the upgrade and remediation of eligible shopfronts at street level. It will also encourage and assist businesses to revert to traditional shopfronts with the aim of transforming the appearance of the street.
Level of support: €5,000 or 25% of cost (ex. VAT), whichever is the lesser.
The programme is informed by the City Development Plan in its objectives to protect and enhance the historic streetscape while promoting high quality shop design and strengthening the character of key retail areas. It will advance the use of traditional materials, sensitive signage and visually appealing facades that reinforce the identity of Cork City.
Applications can be submitted under both schemes for an individual property. Applications will also be accepted where property owners are in receipt of other grant aid, e.g. vacant property grant.
The City Centre Façade Improvement Grant 2026 will open to applicants on the 22nd January 2026. The links to the forms can be found on our website https://www.corkcity.ie/en/doing-business-in- cork/businesssupports/grants/ .Terms and conditions for the schemes are below.
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The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 26 th March 2026.
All applicants must read and be familiar with the fund guidelines and conditions
before applying. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis having regards
to value for money and positive impact on St Patrick’s Street Streetscape.
Scoring Framework - Municipal District Community Fund Schemes Incomplete application forms will not be accepted. Deadline for all applications is Thursday 26th March 2026
City Centre Façade Improvement
1. St Patrick’s Street Painting Grant Scheme
The 2026 St Patricks Street Painting Grant aims to support buildings within the defined location who
need minor façade uplifts through painting & decorating and/ or power washing, cleaning, minor
repair works to rendering, gutters and downpipes. The works can be applied to single or multiple
facades.
Examples of Eligible
Examples of Ineligible proposals
Proposals
- Building is situated in the eligible area outlined in the map attached (Any building along Grande Parade / Patrick Street / St Augustine’s and Lavitt’s Quay/Merchant’s Quay -The property is a commercial ground floor premises and associated top floors that face onto St. Patrick St..
-Running costs of business
(e.g. wages, electricity etc.)
-Large infrastructure projects
-Buildings that are the responsibility of Gov.
Departments e.g. Dept of Education, Dept. of
Health.
-Applicant is the property owner or tenant with written owner consent.
-Servicing of debt
-The building needs intervention through painting / cleaning / Power washing or minor repairs.
-Applicant does not have owner consent
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-Applicant is in arrears with commercial rates
-Buildings in arrears of commercial rates with a formal agreement in place with Cork City Council.
payments without a formal agreement in place
with Cork City Council.
-Colour proposed compliments the heritage of the street
Paint Fund contributions must be accepted / declined within 14 days of the date on which the Council notifies successful applicants of their allocation. It is expected that all applicants will be notified before April 2026 with all proposals to be complete by September 30 th , 2026.
2. St Patrick’s Street Shopfront Grant Scheme
The Shopfront Improvement Scheme is an opportunity for businesses to enhance their premises
through the restoration of traditional shopfronts, upgrade of lighting and signs along with other
elements in need of improvement to enhance the presentation of the overall streetscape.
Applicants can apply for a grant towards a new façade or submit a proposal for a package of
interventions.
Examples of Eligible Proposals
Examples of Ineligible proposals
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- Building is situated in the eligible area outlined in the map attached (Any building along Grande Parade / Patrick Street / St Augustine’s and Lavitt’s Quay/Merchant’s Quay
-Running costs of business
(e.g. wages, electricity etc.)
-Interior refurbishments
-The property owner is proposing to upgrade the shopfront.
-Painting and minor works
-Applicant is the property owner or tenant with written owner consent
-Routine maintenance without enhancement.
-Applicants who wish to undertake a package of activities.
-Servicing of debt
-Replacement of outdated, excessive or cluttered signage and fixtures with high quality traditional signs and discreet fixtures (wires, alarms etc)
-Installation of CCTV / Alarm systems
-Residential Projects
-Repair / cleaning of brick and stone facades, Repair of pillars, cornices, brackets etc.
-Installation of traditional window frames.
-Remove and replace roller shutters with internal alternatives
-Upgrade or repair of external lighting
Shop front contributions must be accepted / declined within 14 days of the date on which the Council notifies successful applicants of their allocation. It is expected that all applicants will be notified before April 2026 with all proposals to be complete by November 12 th , 2026.
City Centre Façade improvement Grant Supporting Documentation 2026
• The Colour Palette template provided must be complete and submitted with all applications. All proposals must include full colour scheme including walls, timber frames and any trimmings.
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• Applicants who wish to undertake a package of activities are required to submit an additional detailed proposal at time of application.
• Evidence of title to the site or premises and or evidence of owner consent must be submitted with all applications (For example, a copy of a lease agreement, title deeds etc.)
• Applicants must submit three quotations showing proposal costs at the time of application, either an itemised quotation or proof of quotation request.
City Centre Façade Improvement Grant Conditions 2026
• The Council’s full contribution will only be paid once your proposal is fully complete. All projects and surface areas will be inspected by the Council before payment drawdown.
• Invoices clearly marked paid with receipts corresponding to the total project cost must be submitted before payment of the approved contribution can be made by the Council .
• A grant cannot be paid where the applicant is defaulting on commercial rates payments. Official rates agreements must be in place with Cork City Council for accounts in arrears.
• Payment of grant will be withheld in the case of damage to public property.
• Any subsequent changes to the proposal (from what was described in the original application) must be agreed in writing with the Council in advance of work commencing. Failure to do so may jeopardise the payment of the Council’s contribution.
• Prior to commencing works, all consents must be in place for relevant licences and insurances i.e. cherry pickers, scaffolding etc. The council will waive the fees associated with licensing costs for works completed under this grant scheme only with the exception of the initial application fee.
• Proposals must comply with all requirements in relation to Planning, Building Regulations, Health and Safety, and Fire Codes if applicable. Evidence of compliance must be submitted where applicable. • While the Council does not require copies of these insurances and requirements, this does not exempt the firms or applicants from their insurance requirements, nor does it exempt the fund recipients from their responsibility to ensure the works and firms carrying out the works are adequately insured.
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The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Thursday 26 th March 2026.
Contact Details
Stephanie Connolly City Centre Development and Operations Directorate Cork City Council City Hall Cork 0857805468 / stephanie_connolly@corkcity.ie
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