North Somerset Council has successfully bid to Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone fund to a sum of £1.2m to create a new High Street Heritage programme.

High streets across the country have been given a total of £95m to revive historic high streets in 69 towns, with 10 in the South West. Projects will look to transform disused historic buildings into shops, houses and community centres. The funding will also help traditional businesses adapt to better compete with online outlets.

The new programme area in Weston, which is in addition, and separate to, the existing Heritage Action Zone (HAZ), will focus on Weston-super-Mare’s southern High Street around Oxford Street and North Walliscote Road for works over four years. Future activities for the programme will include:

• Community engagement – to help shape the delivery and sustainability of the new programme through volunteering and stakeholder initiatives
• Public realm and restoration of architectural features – the restoration and repair of original street features, improved lighting, paving, street furniture and bringing back original architectural characteristics
• Development and management of a shop front enhancement grants scheme, improving the exterior of retail units and reinstatement of historical features
• Conversion to new homes – working with property owners to support the sympathetic, appropriate and high-quality conversion of uppers floors, empty units and potentially bringing forward up to 20 new homes in the town centre
• Arts/culture projects – working with the Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the local community, supporting the development of a cultural arts programme of projects
• Explore the development of training opportunities in traditional conservation skills, building on the work of the current HAZ, and in partnership with local providers

Deputy Leader of North Somerset Council, Cllr Mike Bell, said: “I’m delighted to hear of this successful bid for funding. This is great news and I look forward to working with the local community, business and property owners to implement projects that will make a real difference to the vibrancy of the area,”

“We will now work this up into a detailed delivery plan to be agreed with Historic England by March so we can start implementing in April 2020.”

Rebecca Barrett, Regional Director at Historic England South West, said: “It’s fantastic news for the local people, residents and businesses in Weston that they will receive this funding to help support and revitalise the town centre, focussing on the C20th area of expansion. This scheme connects well with other regeneration activity in the town, including the existing Heritage Action Zone. We look forward to continuing to work with the Council on new, exciting projects.”

The new High Street Heritage programme will be part of the Weston Town Centre Regeneration Programme. The regeneration of Weston-super-Mare has seen significant investment into the town centre over the last ten years, creating a vibrant and diverse town focused around living, learning and lifestyle. The council will continue to deliver improvements to key development sites, positively encourage investment and attract more people to live in the town centre, creating an improved local economy that is also sensitive and supportive of our vibrant heritage.

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