Townscape Heritage Initiative

Funding for your historic building

Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, West Lindsey District Council was awarded £1.25 million to spend on the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) scheme. Awarded in 2019, the funding’s aims were for high impact interventions to vacant and derelict shop front buildings in part of the Gainsborough Town Centre Conservation Area.

Now, the successful Levelling Up Fund application has enabled us to extend our Townscape Heritage Initiative even further. West Lindsey District Council is now on track to assist in the refurbishment of heritage buildings and shop fronts with funds earmarked for to up to fifty targeted buildings within the town centre.

A map of eligible properties in Gainsborough.
A map of eligible properties in Gainsborough.

Even better news; because of the Levelling Up Funds, the Living Over the Shops scheme has now also been extended.

What this means for Building owners and lease holders is that you could receive:

  • Up to 90% of project costs towards repairs of rainwater goods, brickwork, windows and the reinstatement of your building’s original shop front.
  • Up to 50% of total costs (up to £25k per unit) towards the creation of residential spaces primarily above the ground floor level.

What can WLDC do?

We can help you to restore your premises to its former glory.

We can support you through the application process and beyond.

From staged grant payments to up-front coverage for architectural and professional preliminary fees, and 90% cost coverage, there is no reason not to explore this opportunity to join in the regeneration of Gainsborough Town Centre.

We are already funding projects and you will see more scaffolding going up on Lord Street and Silver Street as more owners and businesses are taking up these opportunities.

For further details about these initiatives and to arrange a discussion, please contact the Growth Team.

[email protected]

27-29 Lord Street, before (left) and after (right).
27-29 Lord Street, before (left) and after (right).
Lord Street, July 2022.
Lord Street, July 2022.
Silver Street, July 2022.
Silver Street, July 2022.