Image demonstrating Hexham Hub seeks high street heritage funding

Hexham Hub seeks high street heritage funding

Hexham could soon see high street improvements and new cultural activities if an application for Historic England funding is successful.

Northumberland County Council has committed to working with partners, through the Hexham Hub, to make an application to the Historic England High Street Heritage Action Zone fund.  

The £40million fund forms part of the £675million Future High Street Fund released by the Government in December last year.  

The High street Heritage Action Zone fund provides an exciting opportunity to apply for between £250k and £2million to benefit Hexham’s historic town centre, in a four year programme of high street improvements and cultural activities.

The coming weeks will see activity with partners and property owners in the town, drawing up an expression of interest to the fund, which will be submitted on 12 July this year.  

Hexham has a strong heritage and cultural offer and the application will aim to develop and strengthen this; looking to revitalise and repurpose key buildings in the primary retail area.

The expression of interest will also look at areas where the public realm can be improved, with an opportunity to draw in additional funding to bring the town’s history to life, through a new cultural programme.

The Hexham Hub is a town forum for Hexham; a partnership between Northumberland County Council, Hexham Town Council and Hexham Community Partnership. It works closely with other strategic partners in the town to ensure a cohesive approach to the development, prosperity and community of Hexham. It strives for a thriving retail, business, living, tourist and evening economy and to respect and uphold the town's history and heritage and it’s neighbourhood plan as it develops.

Cath Homer, county councillor for Hexham East and cabinet member for culture, arts, leisure and tourism, said:  “I welcome this exciting chance to bid for funding, for the residents, businesses and visitors to our town. It's really positive that we are all working together through the Hexham Hub to get behind the huge opportunities that this application presents.”

Councillor Richard Wearmouth, portfolio holder for economic development at the county council, said:  “This is an excellent opportunity to integrate Hexham’s heritage with the overall development of the town, complementing existing work on the development of key sites that the council and others are currently working on to regenerate the town centre.”

Councillor Bob Hull, Mayor of Hexham said “Hexham Town Council will work with its Hub partners to prepare an application which will develop a heritage-led economic regeneration project for the town centre. We will build upon the policies already contained in the draft Hexham Neighbourhood Plan, which recognises the great potential for Hexham’s heritage to be the basis for lasting improvements for the town centre.”

Peter Rodger, chair of Hexham Community Partnership, said: “I am delighted to get behind this application to the High Street Heritage Action Zone fund.  It presents a real opportunity to protect our wonderful heritage assets and to develop our town centre for all who enjoy it.”
 
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