Owners of buildings on Ivegate can now apply for support to help turn tacky shopfronts into frontages befitting one of the city’s oldest streets.
Last year, a section of Bradford city centre was given a Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) classification by Historic England. The designation came with £2 million funding over three years for refurbishments to some of the city’s grand but neglected buildings.
Bridge Street, Bank Street, Ivegate, Hustlergate, and areas of Sunbridge Road and Kirkgate all fall within the HAZ.
Some of the HAZ cash will go towards supporting property owners in improving shop frontages, replacing modern signage with more traditional frontages and signs.
Ivegate – believed to be the city’s oldest street – will be the first part of the HAZ to be targeted, and owners of buildings on that street can now apply for support.
Despite sitting in a Conservation Area, the street has been blighted by modern and sometimes unauthorised signage.
Bradford Council’s Executive will discuss the grant support at a meeting on Tuesday.
A report into the HAZ says: “The Bradford HAZ is a key missing piece of the regeneration jigsaw puzzle. By design the scheme will build on the current investment in the area such as Transforming Cities Fund, Bradford Live, One City Park, Daley Street Market, and City Village.The scheme by design seeks to reduce vacancy rates, enhance pride in our high street, unlock further funding opportunities through enabling investigation works, restore at-risk historic properties in our city centre through unlocking private investment via property grant schemes, and support local businesses through driving footfall.”
“Ivegate is one of Bradford’s oldest and most significant streets, where this investment will make a visible and positive impact on the city centre’s historic character.Buildings elsewhere within the wider HAZ boundary are not currently being considered for grant assistance at this stage, but property owners are encouraged to get in touch to explore other ways the council may be able to help.”
HAZ funding will also help deliver a cultural programme of events celebrating the area’s heritage, and a project exploring the past, present and future of Bradford City Hall.
Si Cunningham, Chair of Bradford’s Heritage Action Zone Board, said: “Bradford is rightly renowned for its remarkable architecture, and these grants will help building owners in the Heritage Action Zone achieve the highest standards of design and restoration. Everyone has a role to play in protecting Bradford’s heritage, and I hope eligible businesses seize this opportunity.”
