Grant secured for city centre regeneration project
Whitefriargate in Hull has received a grant of £1.75m from Historic England.
Hull City Council was informed earlier this year that its funding bid, for up to £1.75m for the historic street, had been accepted.
Historic England has now confirmed that the regeneration project in Hull city centre will receive the full amount.
Councillor Daren Hale, portfolio holder for economic investment and regeneration at Hull City Council, said: “The confidence and investment that we are seeing being made on Whitefriargate could not have happened without the council being successful in securing significant funding grants, like this £1.75m from Historic England.
“It’s fantastic to see such investment and funding being secured for the historic street, especially considering all the impacts that are being felt as a result of coronavirus.”
The £95m government-funded High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme, which is delivered by Historic England, includes nine historic high streets across Yorkshire which have been offered government funding totalling more than £13m.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “High streets sit at the heart of our communities and every part of the country deserves to have one they can be proud of.
“This fund will help breathe new life into high streets in towns and cities across the country – restoring them to their full glory so that they are beautiful places for people to shop, work and enjoy.”
The funding will be used to support the refurbishment of the historic street by providing grants aimed at encouraging private sector property owners to undertake building and conversion projects that bring unused upper floor space back into use through conversion into new residential units.
The scheme, part of Hull’s High Street Heritage Action Zone, will also fund lighting and interpretation improvements, a community engagement and cultural programme and an evaluation exercise over the lifespan of the programme.
With additional match funding sought from the council and accounting for private investment, this means a total of £2.68m could be invested in Whitefriargate.
