Townscape Heritage Initiative

The Rotherham Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) grant scheme has been established to help owners or long-tern tenants with the cost of improving historic buildings in the town's conservation area. The THI is concentrated along the historic area of High Street in the town centre.

The aim of the initiative is to contribute to the wider regeneration of the town centre by restoring the built fabric of this once bustling shopping street and bringing vacant floor space back into beneficial use. The scheme will compliment and add to initiatives such as the Living Over The Shops (LOTS) programme and the public realm improvements planned for High Street. The Council wants to transform High Street into an economically vibrant area that has a mix of uses to attract shoppers and diners set within a high quality environment.

The £3.5m scheme is being funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Yorkshire Forward and the Council.

Public realm improvements

A series of public realm improvements around All Saints' Minster and on the High Street will complement the restoration of the buildings. New surfacing is planned for the street and improvements to Minster Yard. A public art feature is also planned for the top of High Street.

Are you eligible for a THI grant?

Owners or long-term tenants of business premises within the area can apply for a grant. A long-term tenant is someone who has had at least 10 years tenancy. Full details of the type of work that is eligible for support are included in the downloads.

Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan for the Rotherham Town Centre Conservation Area

The Conservation Area Appraisal for Rotherham Town Centre Conservation Area has been revised and updated and follows the advice of English Heritage.

Published in 2006, It provides a detailed appraisal and history of the town defining the special character of the conservation area. Added to the earlier document is also a Management Plan for the Conservation Area that puts in place measures to preserve and enhance the character of the conservation area, and a smaller defined area within it that relates to the Townscape Heritage Initiative.

Copies of this document or CD versions are free on request. Please contact us.

Shop Front Grants

Part of the development work for the THI Stage 2 bid also included the preparation of a Shop Front Design Guide which was adopted in July 2006. These documents will be taken into account when determining planning applications.