Skipton High Street to receive £1.2m from Historic England

Craven District Council has been awarded funding totalling more than a million pounds to spend on improvements to Skipton High Street.

The authority will receive a grant of £1,278,480 for the High Street Heritage Action Zone, which will find new uses for historic buildings in and around the High Street.

There will also be youth markets and festivals to attract younger people to the town centre, and new public spaces for cultural activities to take place.

Councillor Simon Myers, Craven District Council’s Lead Member for Enterprising Craven, said: “We’re delighted to have secured this funding and work is already underway to make Skipton town centre even more inviting and prosperous.

“We have a range of exciting plans including creating more public space for people to relax and visit events and markets. We’re looking at ways to improve the ginnels running off the High Street, and have plans to bring more of the historic buildings around the town centre back into use.

“This funding will help with the complete refurbishment taking place at Skipton Town Hall, and we are also drawing up proposals to create artists’ studio space and affordable housing for young people.

“We will be looking to plan events around the town centre to celebrate its historical heritage as part of this project; however, with restrictions still in place due to the pandemic, we are also looking for ways we can create more digital entertainment and events safely for people to enjoy.”

Click here to listen to Councillor Simon Myers talking to Rombalds Radio.

Charles Smith, Acting Regional Director for Historic England in the North East and Yorkshire, said: "Every high street in England has a distinctive history that can be harnessed to help it achieve a prosperous future.

"Investing in heritage delivers good results for people – it means looking after and celebrating the places at the heart of our communities, and the buildings and public spaces which define their character. This investment for our Historic High Streets Action Zone scheme in Yorkshire will unlock the potential of these precious high streets in the region and help them thrive again."

Eight other high streets across Yorkshire have been given the green light for regeneration schemes to aid their economic recovery too - to give high streets a new lease of life and help them recover from declining footfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Money is being provided by the government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Cultural Programme is led by Historic England, in partnership with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.

 

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