Funding awarded to improve historic buildings in Bradford

Bradford Council has been awarded a £2m grant to improve their historic buildings and encourage further business investment in the area. 

The project will be led by the Bradford City Townscape Heritage Scheme and the four-year scheme is being delivered by the council and supported by £2m of funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The first project to start construction and to be awarded part of the grant is at 14-16 Rawson Place, where owners Frost Hill Investment Ltd is conserving and refurbishing the Grade II listed building.

The upper floors, which have been empty for many years, will be converted into apartments and the ground floors into shop fronts.

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, executive member for regeneration, planning and transport said: ‘It is wonderful that our Townscape Heritage grant awards will preserve the Top of Towns precious architectural heritage.

‘This first grant award for Rawson Place will ensure that a 130-year-old building is brought back into full use, and in a condition that will ensure it will be conserved for many years to come.

‘This £2m programme is part of our wider generation approach to the area including the £21m market and a public square on Darley Street and the longer-term development of the City Village.

Richard Middleton, townscape heritage project officer, said: ‘During the first year of the Townscape Heritage scheme, over a dozen projects have been developed with property owners, but grant awards can only be made once a project is ready to start on site.

‘We are delighted to be able to award our first grant in this scheme and look forward to working with the owners on this project.’

In November 2019, Bradford was named the most improved city in the UK in a study, which measures good economic growth.

According to the report, Bradford emerged as this year’s top improver, driven by jobs, work-life balance and skills amongst its 25+-year-olds.

Bradford has experienced a large reduction in its unemployment rate, measured at 4.1% in 2018 compared to 10% in 2015.

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