Padiham Townscape Heritage scheme secures lottery funding

Burnley City Council has secured £1.4million in Heritage Lottery Fund money towards developing the Padiham: Crafting the Future Townscape Heritage Scheme.

The project aims to regenerate and transform a substantial area of the Padiham town centre conservation area, known locally as ‘The Hill’. The area includes 40 buildings, most of which date from the 19th century, along Burnley Road at the heart of the town.

Buttress was involved in the early stages of the project supporting Burnley City Council in the first and second stage grant applications. This included undertaking the building condition surveys and valuations element of the project, which identified buildings in need of repair or restoration.

This subsequently fed into the creation of a Conservation Area Management Plan, also developed by the practice’s heritage team. The report provides the basis for policy formulation and decision making, as well as providing recommendations on areas of short and long-term improvement. The Management Plan will also be used to support future planning applications and inform future design proposals.

Speaking about the successful grant application, Councillor Sue Graham, executive member for regeneration and economic development, said: “Padiham has a wonderful heritage centre that needs preserving for future generations. At the same time, this successful bid will help breathe new life into the centre.

“This is great news and the result of close partnership working between the council, local residents and businesses, and other groups to improve their town.

“Schemes like this don’t just help to create attractive, vibrant places that people want to live, work, visit and invest in. They also inspire communities to find out more about their local heritage, and give people the chance to learn new skills.

“It will help enhance Padiham’s historic heart, build on the town’s civic pride, and attract more visitors and shoppers to the town.”