Streets which form the gateway to the city centre from the south are set to be restored to former glories after the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £682,400 to Nottingham City Council under the Townscape Heritage scheme.
The money will finance grants of up to 80 per cent of the cost of building works to restore eligible properties on Carrington Street, Arkwright Street and Station Street, uncovering or reinstating original Victorian and Edwardian features, faithfully restoring shop fronts and allowing unused upper floors to be brought back into use.
Restoration work will use appropriate materials and techniques, providing an example to other building owners. A complementary programme of heritage-inspired community activities will include a photography competition for children and young people, workshops in repair and maintenance of historic buildings, training in traditional skills such as joinery and metalwork, events for visitors and information to give people a greater understanding of the history and architecture that surrounds them.
Work on the Carrington Street Area Townscape Heritage scheme is expected to start later this year and last up to five years.
The grant was awarded after the council spent a previous £34,500 HLF development grant working up proposals for the area. The scheme will complement the £250 million transformation of the Broadmarsh area by improving the look, feel and functionality of streets between the recently redeveloped Nottingham Station and intu Broadmarsh.
More information about the scheme, including how to apply for a conservation grant for a building on these streets, is available at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/carringtonstreetth.
Councillor Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport, said: “The Broadmarsh area will soon benefit from a major transformation, the Station Street improvements are due to finish in a few months and the railway station has already been beautifully redeveloped, so the Townscape Heritage scheme will complete the picture by restoring buildings on some of the busiest pedestrian routes in the city centre.”
Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, said: “These streets are the gateway to the bustling heart of the city for thousands of people every day. They also have a long and distinguished history dating back to the 19th century. It’s great to see that, thanks to National Lottery players, restoring the city’s historic buildings will be a crucial part of the extensive regeneration of the area, helping to make the city a better place to live and work.”
Peter Ellis, Chair of Nottingham City Council’s Heritage Panel, which is overseeing the council’s 15-year Heritage Strategy, said: “This is an important development for the preservation and enhancement of some of the many beautiful buildings which benefit the City of Nottingham. In particular the Townscape Heritage scheme will make a considerable improvement to the appearance and experience of a major route into the City from the newly developed station now serving rail and tram customers.”
The council’s wide-ranging proposals to transform and regenerate the Broadmarsh area involve the redevelopment of intu Broadmarsh, the building of Central College Nottingham and New College Nottingham’s Skills Hub and the modernisation of the car park and bus station. Alongside the planned improvements to Nottingham Castle, the scheme will transform the southern end of the city centre into a top-class destination for retail, leisure and education and is expected to create 2,900 jobs and attract an extra three million visitors, spending £25 million a year.