Heritage-led regeneration ‘can revitalise high streets’

A government-backed initiative to regenerate high streets through community engagement and cultural events provided an economic boost of nearly a quarter of a billion pounds, a study has found.

An evaluation of the High Streets Heritage Action Zone Programme Evaluation found that using the cultural heritage of neglected high streets as a catalyst for regeneration created 700 jobs worth more than £34m a year across the 67 locations involved.

The four-year Historic England initiative, supported with £103m funding from central government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, was designed to boost pride in place, connect communities and drive economic growth in places that need it the most.

The programme managed to attract £140m in additional investment. The report values the total benefits from the programme at more than £245m. 

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said the evaluation carried out by AMION Consulting showed “that heritage-led regeneration can create impactful and sustainable change in a way that improves people’s lives”.

He continued: “The evaluation highlights a new approach to ensuring our high streets can adapt and grow to support our local communities.”

Core objectives

The programme, which ran from 2020 to 2024, was designed around three core objectives: to support sustainable economic and cultural growth on and around high streets; to change perceptions of heritage and high streets; and to restore and enhance local historic character.  

A total of 723 historic buildings were restored during the programme. In addition, 462 shopfronts were restored and vacant high street buildings were brought back into use.

The programme involved high streets in all the regions of England, with the North West having the highest number with 14 (21%). The East of England had the smallest number with six (9%).

Individual towns and cities in the initiative included Middlesbrough, Wakefield, Harlesden and Redruth.

The majority of the funding for the programme was distributed as grants to local partners, most of which were local authorities. Project grants ranged from £300,000 to over £5m, with the average grant being around £1.3m.

Social impact

As well the economic benefits, the report highlights the social impact of the programme, which it said “brought 930,000 people together to connect with their local high streets”. 

The initiative was developed in response to the changing use of high streets. Rather than focusing on their traditional role as retail centres, it imagined them as vibrant zones of community activity.  

This was reflected throughout the programme, which included cultural programming and direct engagement with the local community

A total of 1,695 public events were hosted, as well as 592 school activities. The cultural activity also involved 336 artworks and installations, which the report said attracted new visitors and strengthened local identity.

Community engagement included training and volunteer sessions, resulting in 42,503 volunteer hours “dedicated to making their high streets more attractive places to visit”. 

Wilson said he hoped that by sharing the evaluation report “others can benefit from the lessons we have learned over the past four years… so that future high streets can also be strengthened, creating economic growth and becoming much valued places for communities to use and enjoy for years to come.”