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Andover shop fronts set for improvement thanks to new grant
Shop fronts in Andover town centre could be transformed thanks to a new grant scheme from Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC).
The scheme has been by developed by TVBC in collaboration with Andover BID and Andover Town Council, using up to £80k of TVBC’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation from central government for 2025 to 2026.
Grants of up to £12.5k will be available to businesses and landlords of buildings in the town centre for improvements including new shop fronts, new signage, repairs, and work to improve accessibility. Businesses and landlords will be required to contribute to the costs and will retain responsibility for maintenance.
The scheme recognises the fact that businesses in well-maintained properties make a significant impact on the appearance and vibrancy of the town centre. And the improvements to shop frontages will complement the regeneration projects underway in Andover which will bring The Lights theatre into the heart of the town centre and see the creation of a new riverside park at Western Avenue.
For more information on the grants, visit www.testvalley.gov.uk/andovertowncentrefrontagegrant
Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Councillor Phil North, said: “High streets have faced difficult times in recent years, and I remain committed to doing all I can to help Andover town centre to thrive. At the forefront of that is our major regeneration projects, and this scheme also provides real, practical help to business owners and will inject new life into the fabric of our town centre in the meantime.
“We have seen issues arise with several buildings in the town centre recently, and while responsibility for maintenance still lies firmly with the owners, we were keen to work with our partners to look at what we could do to assist our local businesses.
“Our focus will always remain on improving and enhancing our town, and we are delighted to be able to offer this support in 2025-26 in collaboration with our partners at the BID and town council.”
Alongside introducing the grant, the council is continuing to put pressure on the owners of the Ladbrokes building to undertake the necessary work as quickly as possible and finally remove the scaffolding. The latest update they have received from the owner’s building contractor is that this should be done by the end of August, but the council has committed to maintaining the pressure until the issue is resolved once and for all.
Jon Deacon from Andover BID added: "Andover BID is pleased to join with Test Valley Borough Council and Andover Town Council to support the shop front grant. We hope the scheme will assist our businesses in financing repairs and improvements as we all work towards showcasing a more vibrant town centre .”
Andover Town Mayor, Councillor Heather Neate, said: “I am delighted that Andover Town Council is collaborating with Test Valley Borough Council and Andover BID to help make Andover a welcoming, safe, and well cared for town.”
The grants are not for urgent works to ensure that town centre buildings are safe, but to part-fund small-scale projects to improve their appearance.
All improvements must be completed by March 2026.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is provided by the UK government for a range of priorities including High Street and town centre improvements.
