Owners of run down heritage buildings in Bradford can attend advice sessions
The drop in sessions are to help people find out more about how to return the buildings to their former glory
OWNERS of some of Bradford’s run down heritage buildings will be given advice on how to return them to their former glory.
Bradford Council is inviting building owners, landlords or long-term tenants within Bradford’s Heritage Action Zone property grant boundary to attend one of two drop-in sessions next week.
The scheme, which takes in city centre streets including Bridge Street, Bank Street and parts of Kirkgate.
The priority area for the property grants as part of the Heritage Action Zone project are shopfronts on the city centre’s historic Ivegate.
These streets are currently blighted by empty units and inappropriate shopfronts.
A report to Bradford Council’s Planning Panel earlier this week revealed that the Authority would begin enforcement action against the owners of one unit on the historic street – 22 Ivegate – due to an unauthorised shopfont and signage being installed.
The Heritage Action Zone property grant scheme seeks to unlock investment into historic buildings, enhance the streetscape and support the local economy and community.
Funding is available for the reinstatement of traditional shopfronts, as well as restoration and repair works to roofs, façades, brickwork and architectural features.
This may also include architectural investigations and design work for individual schemes.
Bradford’s Heritage Action Zone Officer will be at the shop unit in the Kirkgate Shopping Centre which can be accessed from the corner of Darley Street and Kirkgate on Tuesday (December 16) from 9.30am until 12.30pm and on Thursday (December 18) between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.
They will be joined by representatives of Historic England, which has funded the £2million project, and officers from the Council’s Conservation Team and Business Advice Team.
There will also be Community Heritage Researchers who are part of the cultural programme of the HAZ on the Thursday session.
Si Cunningham Chair of Bradford’s Heritage Action Zone Board said: “It’s been encouraging to hear so much support and enthusiasm for Bradford’s Heritage Action Zone, which will provide a great boost for the city’s famously grand old buildings. Now is the time for businesses to get involved and find out more about how the scheme could benefit them.”
Lisa Kinch, Historic Places Adviser at Historic England said: “We’d encourage people to get involved in this scheme not to only help rejuvenate important historic city centre buildings but also help make Bradford even more attractive for investment to the benefit of local people and visitors.”
The council is planning to hold further sessions in the New Year.