Southend Council relaunches interest-free loan scheme to revive empty commercial properties

June 24, 2026

Southend-on-Sea City Council is aiming to revitalise the development and use of empty commercial properties across Southend, Castle Point, and Rochford by providing interest-free loans of up to £250,000 for a maximum term of 36 months.

Having first secured government funding for the scheme in 2022, many of the original three-year, zero-interest loans to owners and developers have now been repaid, and No Use Empty – South East Essex (NUE SEE) is ready to be relaunched.

The Southend-led scheme focuses solely on commercial property, with the objective of kick-starting regeneration and supporting new uses for empty premises. This may include alternative commercial, residential, or mixed-use purposes.

NUE SEE is aimed at freehold property owners and developers. Subject to approval, eligible applicants will be able to borrow between £50,000 and £250,000. Loans are provided at zero interest and will be secured by a legal charge.

Loans will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis and can be provided either as standalone funding or as ‘top-up’ funding to an existing loan.

Councillor Matt Dent, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: “We hope to reduce the number of empty properties by supporting owners and developers to bring commercial premises back into use. Short-term, zero-interest loans have proven to be a highly effective regeneration tool over the past three years, and we look forward to making them available again across Southend and our two neighbouring authorities.”

The NUE SEE scheme will be relaunched at the Southend Business Partnership meeting on 25 June 2026. Further details, including information on how to apply, can be found on the Southend City Council ‘Business on Sea’ website https://www.businessonsea.co.uk/ , or by emailing the team at NoUseEmpty@southend.gov.uk