Folkestone Town Centre set to benefit from £1.3m Heritage Lottery Fund Support

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced earmarked support totalling £15.9m for the regeneration of 12 city and town centres stretching from Falkirk to Folkestone.

HLF's investment will come through its Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) programme which fosters effective partnerships between local organisations, enabling repairs and other essential works in historic but often run-down areas. This latest funding, integral to wider conservation and regeneration strategies, will also help provide employment and training opportunities.

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said:

"The next time you walk down your local high street, remember to look up and admire the fantastic heritage all around you. Our town centres deserve to be at the heart of community life and the Heritage Lottery Fund believes that even small changes, such as improving shop fronts or restoring a building's historic features, can make a difference. By working closely with local authorities and their respective communities, our substantial investment will help bring vacant properties back into use as well as create new business and training opportunities that will be of benefit to many."

The 12 places that have received earmarked HLF support are as follows:

• Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent - first-round pass of £1.6m, including £50,000 development funding
• Peckham, London - first-round pass of £1.7m, including £50,000 development funding
• Dewsbury Town Centre, Huddersfield - first-round pass of £2m, including £33,500 development funding
• Derby Town Centre, Derbyshire - first-round pass of £736,500, including £36,500 development funding
• Whitehaven Old Town, Cumbria - first-round pass of £707,300, including £48,000
• Bacup Town Centre, Lancashire - first-round pass of £1.5m, including £37,500 development funding
• Donaghadee, County Down - first-round pass of £1.043m, including £48,000 development funding
• Folkestone Old Town, Kent - first-round pass of £1.3m, including £50,000 development funding
• Southgate Street, Gloucestershire - first-round pass of £926,700, including £28,400 development funding
• Burslem Town Centre, Staffordshire - first-round pass of £1.013m, including £15,200 development funding
• Falkirk Town Centre, Stirlingshire - first-round pass of £2m, including £50,000 development funding
• Haverfordwest Town Centre, Pembrokeshire - first-round pass of £1.2m, including £40,000 development funding

A Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) earmarked first-round pass means that money has been set aside by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the scheme in question. Competition at this stage is tough, and while it does not guarantee funding, it is an indication of positive support. The applicants can then progress to the second round and submit a further, fully-developed application to secure the full award. This early level of strong financial commitment means that THIs can build strong partnerships with the assurance that funding for their scheme is in place provided their final proposals develop well.

HLF's Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) encourages partnerships of local organisations to carry out repairs and other works to a number of historic buildings, structures or spaces. Grants range from £500,000 to £2m. To date, HLF has invested over £214m regenerating towns that have suffered serious social and economic decline. The deadline for first-round applications is 31 October and decisions will be made in March 2013.