Shop Front Grants

Rotherham Town Centre - Townscape Heritage Initiative Bid

The key aim of the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) scheme is to promote the social and economic regeneration of the wider area through the enhancement of key historic buildings.

The proposed THI scheme will focus around the Listed Grade I Minster situated in the middle of the town centre, and the area to the immediate south including Church Street, High Street, Westgate and the northern end of Wellgate. Selected under-used vacant and derelict properties on the above mentioned streets will be refurbished and enhanced with new traditional shop-fronts.

The scheme also includes provision for public realm improvements in the churchyard, Church Street and Snail Hill. The pedestrian area on Church Street will be refurbished to improve the setting of the church, with improved surfacing, lighting and seating and new historical interpretation boards.

A Stage 2 Funding Bid will be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in September 2006 for £1,145,500. If the bid is approved in spring 2007, property improvement grants will be made available to eligible properties following strict assessment criteria. Grants may be available for new shop-fronts and for bringing vacant floorspace back into use.

 Map of Rotherham town centre showing identified project buildings (200 Kb)

Part of the development work for the THI Stage 2 Bid, includes the preparation of a Shop Front Design Guide and a draft Conservation Area Management Plan.

Shop Front Design Guide (1,238 Kb)

The Council intends to adopt these documents as Interim Planning Statements, which will be taken into account when determining planning applications. A public consultation event was held on Tuesday, 4th April 2006 at the Town Hall.