Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Regeneration and Housing

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Regeneration and Housing which provided details pf proposals to make a Stage 1 application (of a 2 stage process) to the Heritage Lottery fund for the Townscape Heritage funding stream for Southport Town Centre including Lord Street and the Promenade Conservation Areas.

Decision Made:

(1)       approval be given to the submission of a Stage 1 application for Heritage Lottery Funding for Southport Town Centre;

(2)       subject to approval of the Stage 1 application:

(a)       the Head of Regeneration and Housing proceeds with Development of the Project for a Stage 2 application and that

(b)       prior to submission of the Stage 2 application a further report is submitted to the Cabinet seeking approval to proceed with the application and setting out the Partnership Funding arrangements.

Reasons for Decision:

Historic England (HE) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) advised very strongly that the best chance of success at Stage 1 would be to focus on vacant buildings and public realm within a specified zonal area within Southport to create more of a Townscape impact and to build on previous regeneration initiatives such as Kings Gardens. It was with close adherence to the advice provided by HE and the HLF, relating to the links between Kings Gardens and Lord Street, that the bid was developed, as this most closely met the Townscape Heritage programme criteria. The bid was complementary to the work and investment into Kings Gardens, was consistent with wider aims of the draft Southport Development Plan and Local Plan and would sit alongside future identified projects. 

Both Lord Street and the Promenade Conservation Area were placed on the national Heritage at Risk Register in 2014. As a result the Council responded by forming a partnership with Historic England and identifying a series of complementary initiatives to seek to improve the area until it can be removed from the Register. One of these initiatives was the access to external Heritage Lottery Funding in order to fund the gap to repair and restore vacant historic buildings and to bring them back into sustainable use.

The provision of grants would support positive enforcement action by the Council on the poor appearance of these properties. Improvements to the local environment will complement the work being undertaken to grow the visitor economy in the town.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

These two Conservation Areas were chosen over others within the borough as they are currently classified as being "at risk" and so are in priority need of investment. The other four Conservation Areas "at risk" within the authority are not located within any Town Centre and do not have the identified need that that would suit the individual eligibility criteria and outcomes required as part of Townscape Heritage funding stream.

The Townscape Heritage funding stream was selected as a funding option, as there are currently no other grant funding streams available which building owners can access to undertake the necessary improvements.