Historic England has been working with partners for over 40 years on schemes that repair and enhance historic places across England. It was because of this experience that, 4 years ago, it launched its ground-breaking High Streets Heritage Action Zones programme. That programme, which formally ended in April of this year, saw £95m invested into 67 English high streets.
Owain Lloyd-James, Historic England’s Head of Local Government and Communities, joined us at at PUBLIC REALM & URBAN SPACES Smart Class 2024 to outline the results of this investment, both in terms of the impact on places, and the impact on people.
It wasn’t all plain sailing, and Owain’s keynote touched on the lessons learnt and the influence it has had on how Historic England will continue to work with local partners to deliver sustainable heritage-led regeneration.
Summary notes from Owain’s presentation:
- What is place-shaping?
- How does it differ from place-making and what do we mean by place?
- Why are vibrant high streets prioritised spaces in an urban environment?
- Why are vacancy rates up on high streets, and dwell time and footfall down?
- Why are historic high streets so important and how does historic character bring people and investment to places?
- The High Streets Heritage Action Zones Programme:
- Autumn Budget 2028; Up to £2m grants, and package of HAZ support; Built on partnership; 67 schemes for £92m government funding + £3m from NLHF = £95m investment; Cultural programme alongside the capital works;
- HSHAZ objectives:
- 1) To change perceptions of heritage and high streets;
- 2) To support sustainable economic (retail and commercial) and cultural growth;
- 3) To restore and enhance local historic character;
- HSHAZ impacts:
- 1) 76,000 square metres of public realm improved;
- 2) The HSHAZ cultural programme is the largest ever publicly funded, community-led arts and heritage programme;
- 3) 9,000 square metres of new commercial floor space and restored/reinstated 217 shopfronts;
- 4) Engaged communities…
- Engaged – 83% feel more confident about getting involved in community events;
- Involved – 31% are interested in being involved in local Planning decisions; 24$ are interested in opportunities to join local community boards; 58% feel more involved in decisions related to their local area;
- Lessons learnt:
- 1) Pragmatism/flexibility is key;
- 2) The potential of communities;
- 3) Research as part of engagement;
- 4) Capital and cultural as one programme;
- Coventry High Street Heritage Action Zone Case Study:
- The Coventry demonstrator – Historic Coventry Trust as lead partner (community led); Focused on 2 streets; Research as part of engagement;
- Coventry outcomes – 14 buildings repaired; 16 shopfronts repaired/reinstated; Footfall sustained (a small fall, but much larger fall nationally); Dwell time increased; Pride in place increased; Coventry HCT converted historic gatehouse for holiday accommodation;
- Coventry lessons – Community organisation was good at delivering; Flexibility in deployment of grant essential; Value of engagement with HE teams (research, photography); A ‘package’ of interventions works;
- Additional Case Studies – Tyldesley (near Wigan); Wakefield – The Black Swan (“Revealing the past”) and Elephant & Castle Yard;
- What next?
- 1) A lot of uncertainty (new government);
- 2) Place-based investment is here to stay, but who are the partners?
- 3) Vital that HE builds on this.
If you satisfy our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us in Newcastle on July 10th for the live in-person event at The Catalyst, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Owain’s keynote).
Those qualifying to receive the rich presentation content from this event include commissioning, procurement, trialling, partnering and policy leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers, planners, place makers, architects, green space managers, urban designers, communities & neighbourhoods, highways & street scene, transport & mobility and high streets & regeneration professionals from UK councils and local authorities (city, borough, metropolitan, district, county and combined); people and place partnerships; developers, landowners and creators of privately owned public spaces; prime contractors and city centre management companies; DfT, DEFRA, MHCLG, EA and supporting governmental bodies; transport authorities, highways agencies and public transport operators; civic organisations and community groups; and other key players from the public realm ecosystem with responsibility for managing, maintaining and operating our streets, squares, forecourts, parks, pathways, retail centres, car parks, airports, ports, travel hubs, hospitals, housing estates, campuses, communal gardens and the assets contained within these public or semi-public spaces.
