BUILDINGS at the top end of Bradford city centre could be restored to their Victorian glory thanks to a £2 million lottery grant.

Bradford Council has secured its first step towards the funding to improve its City Centre Conservation Area.

The Townscape Heritage programme will target buildings in Rawson Place, Darley Street, James Street and North Parade, known as the “top of town,” and more recently as the Independent Quarter.

Although numerous independent business have opened in that area over the past few years, parts remain blighted by empty buildings, many of which are listed but are now a shadow of their former grandeur.

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The scheme is similar to one that has run in Keighley since 2011, and restored numerous prominent town centre buildings.

The award includes initial funding of £61,000 to develop a more detailed proposal to secure the full funding in the next 12 months. If this is successful, the lottery will release the £2 million, the highest grant available.

Lottery funding will be enhanced with a further £250,000 from Bradford Council, with the money topping up investment from the property owners.

It could see Victorian shop frontages restored, and empty upper floors of city centre buildings converted to flats.

As well as physically improving the buildings, the project will involve schools, with pupils taught about the importance of heritage and the craftsmanship involved in preserving historic assets.

Areas included in the scheme include Darley Street, currently blighted by a number of large empty shop units, and Rawson Place, which contains several derelict, listed buildings.

Saira Ali Team Leader, Landscape Design and Conservation at Bradford Council has worked with property and business owners to produce the bid.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Buildings on Darley Street are among those that could benefit from the lottery grants
Some of the empty buildings on Darley Street

Local communities and businesses will be consulted on the progress of the project which aims to promote and regenerate the area bringing back into use vacant or underused historic buildings, enhancing historic buildings, improving connectivity in the town centre and public realm works.

The area includes dozens of listed buildings.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “The heritage led regeneration of the ‘Top of Town’ through the reuse of historic buildings will protect links to the past and help secure their future.

“This project provides a unique opportunity to restore Bradford’s fabric and promote engagement, learning and skills.

“Forming part of a wider programme of targeted heritage activity, this scheme complements recent and on-going activity within the city centre and promotes connectivity between key destinations.

“The scheme will help deliver regeneration and draw in investment, drive the economic development of the city centre with new job opportunities and restore civic pride in this area.”

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “This project has the potential to have a powerful effect not only on local pride but also on local economic prosperity in Bradford.”

Alan Hall of the Bradford Civic Society, said: “It is not a huge amount of money, but it it is a symbolic amount, it shows that people have confidence in the regeneration of the city.

“That area, between North Parade and the bottom of town, is in need of some refurbishment. There are some super buildings that end of town, and it will be great if there is the money to improve them.”

Councillor Simon Cooke, Conservative leader on Bradford Council, said: “It is great to have this funding to help us improve Bradford. Every bit helps.

“I think it will encourage the property owners to step up and do some much needed work.”

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, Liberal Democrat leader, said: “Clearly the investment is good news, but £2 million certainly won’t sort out all the buildings that need investment.

“This must be used to lever in additional investment, because by itself £2 million is a drop in the ocean compared tot he scale of the problem.”

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