Ayr Station Closure - Business Relief Fund

Following the fire at the former Ayr Station Hotel, and the subsequent closure of Ayr Train Station and Station Bridge Road, South Ayrshire Council is offering grant support to eligible businesses who have been most impacted by the closures.

The Ayr Station Closure - Business Relief Fund is now open and will close at 5pm on Monday 18^th December 2023.

Who is eligible to apply to the Ayr Station Closure - Business Relief Fund?

Businesses which can meet BOTH of the following two criteria are eligible to apply:

Businesses which are located in the eligible geographical location, as identified on the map (PDF) [1MB]
Businesses which are heavily reliant on the sale of small value goods and services.

Who is not eligible to apply to the Ayr Station Closure - Business Relief Fund?

The following businesses are not eligible to apply to the fund:

Professional Services (including Estate Agents, Accountants, Legal Services and Travel Agents)
Taxi Drivers
National Chains (excluding local franchise owners, who are eligible to apply to the fund)

How to apply to the Ayr Station Closure - Business Relief Fund

If you believe you are eligible to apply to this fund:

Download an editable copy of the Ayr Train Station Closure – Business Relief Fund (PDF) [311KB]
Complete the application form and return it to ASC@south-ayrshire.gov.uk along with the supporting documents (in electronic format), as requested in the application form (see list below).
Include the following in the Subject Line:ASC Your Name - Your Business Name e.g ASC John Smith - Smith's Newsagent

Please note, ALL applicants will be required to submit the following supporting documents which you may wish to look out beforehand to speed up your application:

Copy of photographic proof of identity (e.g. valid passport or driving licence, including provisional driving licence)
Proof of business address (e.g. full page of a recent Rates bill or utility bill)
Bank statement (Covering the months of September 2023 and October 2023, clearly showing Bank Account Name, Account Number and Sort Code), which must clearly show evidence of business transactions.

You will also be required to give your Company Registration No. (if applicable) or Unique Tax Reference Number.

Depending on the legal status of your organisation, will also need to include:

For Limited Companies -

Companies House Certificate of Incorporation or Companies House registration number

For Sole Trader/Self-employed/Freelancer -

A recent screenshot or photo of your business tax account page from the HMRC portal clearly showing your full name and Unique Taxpayer Reference number OR another form of official communication from HMRC with your name and UTR shown.

For Partnership -

Partnership agreement AND HMRC registration

For SCIO, Social Enterprise, Community Interest Company, Trust -

Constitution documents, HMRC registration or VAT registration document

What happens next

On receipt of your completed application and other requested documentation, your application will be appraised, verified and either approved or rejected.

If you are eligible for a grant, this will be paid direct to your business bank account.

If your application has been unsuccessful, you will be notified by email.

If you wish to appeal this decision, please see our appeals procedure (PDF) [122KB] .

For help with your application

If you have any queries concerning your application, please contact the Business Gateway team on 01292 616349.