Archive: this 2019 report describes the original Heritage Action Zone announcement and proposals.

In 2019, Buxton was selected as one of 69 towns to share a £95 million fund for historic high streets.

The 2019 announcement said High Peak Borough Council would work with Historic England on proposals to:

·         Restore traditional shopfronts and architectural details at properties on Spring Gardens

·         Repair and convert vacant listed buildings

·         Offer small grants for more modern units to improve signage and colour schemes

·         Produce guidance on traditional shopfronts and signage

View of central Buxton and the entrance to Spring Gardens

The proposed funding was compared to a previous Townscape Heritage Initiative in Glossop.

Earlier in 2019, the council had been awarded up to £150,000 from the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) to develop a second-stage bid.

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, said: “We want to see our high streets thriving throughout the High Peak and we’re absolutely delighted that our proposal for Buxton to become a Heritage Action Zone has been successful.

 “This funding will enable us to focus on restoring the traditional shopfronts and historical architectural features of the buildings. It works in perfect harmony with our plans to improve the connection between the Georgian and Victorian heritage and the primary shopping street.

 “This excellent news follows hot on the heels of the funding we’ve been awarded to develop our Future High Streets Fund bid and means that our regeneration ambitions are gathering real pace. We’re excited by the potential that these complementary schemes offer for the sustainable regeneration of the spa town of Buxton.”

In 2019, proposals being drawn up under the Future High Streets Fund included looking at ways to:

·         Improve the pedestrian route to and from the railway station

·         Increase residential and office use in the town centre – especially on the upper floors of buildings

·         Increase leisure, food and drink uses, pop-ups and shared spaces

·         Modernise infrastructure to include smart parking, electric vehicle charging and cycle interchange

To see the full list of 69 towns across England awarded in the scheme, go to historicengland.org.uk

What happened next

Buxton’s High Street Heritage Action Zone has now ended. High Peak Borough Council says the programme delivered £926,700 in grant aid for heritage projects along Spring Gardens, with a further £100,000 awarded to the Buxton Our Street cultural programme. The council lists the projects supported, including shopfronts and the Cavendish Arcade canopy.