Local MP Antony Higginbotham has welcomed improvements taking place on Lower St James Street to further clean up the area and regenerate some of Burnley town centre’s most historic buildings.
The regeneration work taking place forms part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) project, which has seen funding secured from Historic England and Burnley Council, alongside contributions from local businesses. The money is being used to improve shop fronts around Marks and Spencer’s to help revitalise the area, as well as to complete restoration work on the former Empire Theatre.
After visiting the area alongside Council Officers just a few months ago, Member of Parliament for Burnley and Padiham Antony Higginbotham said:
I’m excited to see the work that is taking place to regenerate Lower St James Street.
You’d be hard pressed to find anybody who doesn’t think that this part of Burnley town centre requires regeneration. And that’s what’s now happening thanks to co-operation and investment by the Government, Council, Historic England and others.
Real progress is being made to improve this part of the town centre - providing further evidence that we are now getting the focus we need from public bodies and government for improvements into our area.
Historic England’s Zinnie Denby-Mann said:
By investing in the heritage of our much-loved high streets, we’re working with local businesses and partners like Burnley Council to increase footfall and re-energise these spaces, boosting local trade and people’s pride in the town.
The scheme is intended to demonstrate the value of the other properties in the vicinity with the aim of restoring some of Burnley’s most historic high street buildings.
The project builds on work already undertaken to improve the look and feel of the area after the addition of new pavements and planters leading to the Queen’s Lancashire Way.
The Government-funded High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme, which is delivered by Historic England, is aimed at unlocking the potential of high streets, fuelling economic, social and cultural recovery.
